The "Lidio Ramón Pérez" Thermoelectric Power Plant in Felton, Holguín, reported this Wednesday that it is operating at just 135 MW due to a "puncture in the boiler," and it is preparing for the formal shutdown of Unit 2 for a specific repair, as announced by the plant itself through the Electric Union (UNE).
The breakdown is not a new occurrence: unit 2 of Felton has been out of service since at least August 1, which turns its current situation into a prolonged failure that further exacerbates the already deteriorated National Electric Power System (SEN).
The official report from UNE for this Wednesday outlines a catastrophic scenario: at 06:00 hours, the availability of the SEN was 895 MW compared to a demand of 2,850 MW, with 1,950 MW without coverage.
For the peak night hours, the forecast is even more grim. The UNE estimates a supply of only 1,053 MW against a maximum demand of 3,250 MW, resulting in a deficit of 2,197 MW and a projected shortfall of 2,227 MW —the system would provide less than a third of what the country needs.
In addition to the Felton outage, other units are also out of service: units 5 and 6 of the Mariel Power Plant, unit 4 of the Cienfuegos Power Plant, and unit 6 of the Nuevitas Power Plant. Currently under maintenance are unit 3 of the Santa Cruz Power Plant, unit 5 of the Nuevitas Power Plant, and units 5 and 6 of the Renté Power Plant. The limitations in thermal generation total 497 MW.
On Tuesday, the situation did not improve: the outages lasted for 24 hours, including the early morning, and the maximum impact reached 2,411 MW at 8:50 PM, according to the UNE's own report.
This scenario unfolds within the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in decades, with at least seven complete failures of the National Electric System (SEN) so far in 2026. The most recent occurred on August 2, when the network completely disconnected at 10:43 PM.
The power outages, which in many areas exceed 20 hours a day, have sparked protests and pan-banging in multiple neighborhoods of Havana —El Vedado, Playa, Regla, Old Havana, Marianao, Boyeros— and in Santiago de Cuba, with slogans like "electricity, food, and freedom."
Washington has been categorical in identifying the regime as responsible. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in March that the blackouts "have nothing to do" with the United States and attributed them to decades of neglect and outdated equipment. In July, the U.S. representative to the UN was more direct: "The real blockade that Cubans suffer does not come from Washington, but from the Cuban government itself."
The regime, for its part, blames the U.S. embargo for the energy collapse, a narrative that contrasts with the reality of power plants equipped with machinery from the 1950s and 1970s, chronic maintenance issues, and a fuel shortage worsened by reduced supplies from its allies.
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