Three units are synchronized, but Havana remains in the dark

The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) announced this Tuesday that it successfully synchronized the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) with the engines of Mariel, the floating barge of Regla, and Unit 4 of Energás Boca de Jaruco, while Unit 8 of the Máximo Gómez CTE had its boiler operational. 

The announcement on Facebook was presented as a positive sign amid the energy crisis. However, the reality on the streets of Havana is far from the official optimism. Dozens of users commented on the UNE's own post that they were still without electricity, despite the supposed partial recovery of generation.

A massive breakdown worsened the crisis in the capital

The announcement from UNE was made two hours after a massive failure in the 110 kV electrical networks caused new service interruptions in Havana around 1:32 PM. According to official information, the failure led to the sudden outage of several key units, including:

Unit 8 of the CTE Máximo Gómez (Mariel)

The backup engines of Mariel

The Regla Trolley

An Energás Boca de Jaruco machine

The state entity later specified that the event caused a total impact of 215 MW in the capital and surrounding areas, further exacerbating the fragile stability of the SEN.

Record blackouts and a system at its breaking point

This new incident occurs amid the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in recent years. The country has experienced 16 consecutive days with deficits exceeding 1,800 MW, a figure that highlights the structural collapse of the electrical system.

Just the day before, the maximum impact reached 2,007 MW at 6:40 PM, leaving more than half of the national territory without electricity for several hours. In Havana and the western part of the country, blackouts have become constant, prolonged, and unpredictable, affecting homes, workplaces, hospitals, and basic services.

Uncertainty for peak hours

The breakdown this Tuesday threatens to worsen the situation for the evening peak hours, when the UNE had already anticipated a deficit of over 1,900 MW, even before this new failure.

So far, the exact causes of the breakdown in the high voltage networks have not been explained. In the meantime, thousands of Havana residents are facing another day of heat, darkness, and frustration, with an electrical system that survives on temporary fixes, optimistic announcements, and a precarious situation that continues to worsen.