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Cuba faces a new day of massive blackouts this Friday, with a power deficit forecasted by Unión Eléctrica at 1,848 MW during peak nighttime hours, leaving more than half the country without electricity.
Since early morning, the National Electric System (SEN) had already recorded 1,276 MW affected: at 6:00 AM, the availability was only 1,110 MW compared to a demand of 2,360 MW.
The situation will worsen with the sunset. According to the official report, a capacity of 1,202 MW is expected during peak demand hours, with a maximum demand of 3,050 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,848 MW, which could leave over 60% of the national territory without power.
The energy crisis brings with it other serious consequences for the population. Prolonged power outages have left over 200,000 people without water service, further worsening living conditions on the island.
The government itself has had to acknowledge the extent of the deterioration. Díaz-Canel recently admitted that daily life in Cuba is painful, in an unusual public concession regarding the suffering of the population.
The recent history of the Cuban electrical system is alarming. The country has accumulated seven total system failures in the last 18 months, a figure that reflects the critical state of the national energy infrastructure.
Although Cuba has increased the import of solar panels from China, experts warn that this generation will not alleviate nighttime blackouts, especially when demand reaches its peak and solar energy is no longer available.
The long-term outlook does not offer relief either. Analysts and international media agree that 2026 will be the darkest year for Cuba, with a fuel shortage that halts both electricity generation and the rest of the economy.
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