A technical failure in two high-voltage transmission lines originating from Matanzas left five provinces in western Cuba without electricity this Saturday, marking the latest partial collapse of the National Electric System (SEN).
According to the statement from the Electric Union (UNE), at 6:07 PM "a simultaneous trip occurred on the 220 kV lines from Matanzas to Cienfuegos and from Matanzas to Santa Clara, causing the disconnection of the national electricity grid and subsequently the blackout in the western region."
The provinces of Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Mayabeque, La Habana, and Matanzas are without electrical service.
A simultaneous shot on 220 kV lines occurs when a fault activates the protection relays at both ends of the line at the same time, automatically opening the breakers to isolate the affected section.
Although this mechanism is designed to protect the equipment, the simultaneous disconnection of two trunk lines originating from Matanzas was enough to isolate the western subsystem from the rest of the network and cause its collapse.
The affected area has the highest population density in the country. The UNE reported that at the time of issuing the statement, efforts were underway to restore services.
The event occurs in the context of a energy crisis that has been accumulating record deficits throughout 2026.
On July 29 alone, the UNE estimated a deficit of 2,380 MW during peak hours, with several thermal units out of service, including unit 1 of the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, the largest in the country.
This Saturday is not the first collapse of the SEN this year. The general blackout on March 16 lasted for 29 hours and 29 minutes.
On July 6, there was another complete disconnection that lasted nearly 24 hours, with an estimated demand of 3,100 MW compared to just 1,000 MW available.
On July 11, a failure in the 220 kV line between Santa Clara and Sancti Spíritus caused another total collapse of the SEN, and during the restoration, a voltage collapse in the western microsystem was recorded, complicating the recovery. On July 14, the national grid fell for the third time that month.
The structural causes of this accumulated crisis include aging thermoelectric units lacking proper maintenance, insufficient investment, and a chronic fuel shortage, issues that the regime has been unable to reverse after more than two years of sustained energy collapse.
On July 30, the UNE had already anticipated power outages of 2,280 MW for that day, which shows that the system entered the event this Saturday in a state of extreme fragility.
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