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The Cuban electrical system is experiencing one of its worst periods of the year, with widespread blackouts and a deficit exceeding 1900 megawatts (MW), as acknowledged by the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) in its information release dated January 15, 2026.
Yesterday, the service was affected for 24 hours and the disruption continues at this time, admitted the state-owned company, which confirmed that the maximum impact due to capacity deficit was 1770 MW at 6:40 PM on Monday.
The entity explained that the current availability of the National Electric System (SEN) is only 1300 MW, compared to a demand of 2150 MW, resulting in a deficit of 837 MW since the early hours of the morning.
During peak hours, expected for the evening, the deficit could reach 1945 MW, making this Thursday one of the days with the most significant electrical disruptions of 2026.
Havana: 11 hours without electricity
In the capital, blackouts lasted for almost 12 consecutive hours. According to reports from the Electric Company of Havana (EELH), the service was affected for 11 hours and 56 minutes, with a peak of 277 MW offline at 6:40 PM.
Electricity was restored shortly after 10:00 PM, although the company itself acknowledged that the stated schedule was not followed and that it was necessary to disconnect “100 MW of emergency.”
Solar parks with no real impact
Despite the official rhetoric regarding the progress of renewable energies, the UNE reported that the 37 new photovoltaic solar parks only contributed 2872 MWh during the day, with a maximum capacity of 563 MW during daylight hours. This figure is insufficient compared to the national demand, which exceeds 3000 MW during peak hours.
Among the main causes of the electrical collapse are breakdowns in unit 5 of the Mariel CTE, units 1 and 2 of the Felton CTE, and unit 3 of the Antonio Maceo CTE, as well as scheduled maintenance at the plants in Santa Cruz del Norte and Cienfuegos.
The UNE also acknowledged that more than 1100 MW remain out of service due to a lack of fuel and lubricants, a situation that affects 102 distributed generation plants and the barges of Melones and Regla. In total, 169 MW are halted due to a lack of lubricant, a recurring problem in recent weeks.
While the regime insists on highlighting the "commitment to clean energy," the reality of the country continues to be marked by prolonged power outages, damaged appliances, and an exhausted population. Without new investments, with thermoelectric plants collapsing and without Venezuelan oil, Cubans seem doomed to continue living amidst blackouts and propaganda.
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