Related videos:
More than half of Havana continued to experience power outages on Tuesday morning, following the blackout that occurred the previous day, which once again highlighted the structural crisis of the national electric power system (SEN).
According to a report on Facebook by the Electric Company of Havana, as of 10:00 a.m., 25 substations and 110 distribution circuits had been restored, allowing electricity to be returned to 332,926 customers. This figure represents only 38.6% of the users in the capital.
The entity specified that the recovered capacity amounts to 196.46 megawatts (MW), in a restoration process that is progressing gradually and is contingent on the availability of the SEN, which continues to operate under severe limitations.
Among the prioritized services during the recovery are 40 hospitals and three water supply systems, sectors deemed essential for the population amid the energy emergency.
The general blackout on Monday left large areas of Havana completely dark for several hours, worsening a situation already characterized by prolonged and frequent power outages throughout the country.
In recent months, Havana residents have experienced increasingly frequent outages, despite the fact that historically, the capital has been less affected than other provinces.
So far, the authorities have not provided a detailed explanation of the specific causes of the collapse. However, experts agree that the deterioration of the electrical system, characterized by outdated plants, a lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages, remains the primary factor behind these events.
Meanwhile, the restoration of the service is progressing slowly and without a clear timeline for full recovery. Uncertainty persists among millions of residents, who continue to face blackouts amid high temperatures and increasing pressure on daily life in the Cuban capital.
Partial reconnection, but millions remain without power
The National Electric System (SEN) managed to reconnect this Tuesday from Pinar del Río to Holguín, as confirmed by the Electric Union (UNE) at 11:15 a.m., following the total collapse that occurred on Monday, March 16, leaving Cuba completely in the dark.
According to official information, work progressed overnight to connect the system, while several key units remain in the startup process, including the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, unit 8 of the Mariel CTE, and unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes CTE.
It was also reported that the Felton CTE substation is now powered and ready to synchronize its unit in the coming hours.
Despite these advancements, the recovery remains partial. Eastern provinces such as Santiago de Cuba, Guantánamo, and Granma remain disconnected from the interconnected system and rely on local microelectric systems, leaving millions of Cubans without service.
The authorities have not yet explained the causes of the general blackout. The general director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, acknowledged that no malfunctions were reported in the operating units at the time of the outage, which increases uncertainty about the source of the failure.
Before the collapse, the system was already operating at its limit, with a availability of just 1,140 MW compared to a demand of 2,347 MW. The expected deficit during peak hours reached 1,930 MW, a reflection of deteriorated infrastructure, aging thermal plants, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages.
This is one of several nationwide blackouts reported in recent months, confirming the worsening of an energy crisis that continues to affect daily life across the island.
Filed under: