The Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel praised the advances in the electricity sector and asserted that the country is undergoing an energy transformation of a magnitude that is still not fully understood, while millions of citizens continue to suffer prolonged blackouts and the National Electric System (SEN) has experienced eight total collapses so far in 2026.
"‘We have not yet realized the energy transition we are experiencing,’ affirmed Díaz-Canel during the conclusions of a two-day visit to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) and three of its business groups, as reported by the official Canal Caribe."
The statement came after the president praised the installation of more than 1,000 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic solar capacity in 2025, an advancement that, he asserted, has helped prevent even larger generation deficits.
However, the expansion of solar parks has not managed to end the blackouts that affect the daily lives of Cubans, from food preservation to water supply and the operation of basic services.
On September 18, Cuba experienced its eighth total collapse of the National Electric System in 2026, leaving millions of people without electricity. The national interconnection took about 32 hours to be restored, although this did not mean an immediate recovery of service for all consumers.
The minister acknowledges the financial challenges of the electrical system
During the visit, Díaz-Canel held discussions with officials from the Electric Union (UNE), CUPET, and the Mining and Saline Business Group (Geominsal) to evaluate the implementation of the 176 socioeconomic measures approved in June.
The meetings were also attended by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, highlighted the organizational changes underway at the Electric Union with the incorporation of new generation sources.
"The transformation of the UNE is an extremely profound cultural transformation," affirmed the official.
De la O Levy explained that the company is transitioning from managing a limited number of large thermal power plants to operating a much broader network, which already includes 144 photovoltaic solar parks and is moving towards approximately 300 electricity generation points.
However, he acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges continues to be securing financial resources to sustain the operations of the system.
"We need to quickly and intelligently find ways to generate revenue to alleviate the financial burden on the country from the needs of the Electric Union," he stated.
For his part, Díaz-Canel insisted that economic transformations must be applied both to productive activities and to the internal functioning of the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
"The first thing that needs to undergo an energy transformation is this ministry," said the ruler, who positively evaluated the proposals presented by the business groups.
The private sector begins to intervene in turbines and generators
Another aspect discussed during the meetings was the inclusion of small and medium-sized private enterprises in the maintenance of key components of thermal power plants.
A member of the Communist Party of MINEM, whose identity was not specified in the report, explained that previously private companies participated in refrigeration, painting, and civil works, but did not directly intervene in essential equipment for electricity generation.
"A small and medium-sized enterprise working in a thermoelectric plant, on a turbine and working on a generator, we hadn't tested it," he acknowledged.
As an example, he mentioned an experience developed at the Mariel thermoelectric power plant. He explained that a small and medium-sized enterprise (mipyme) participated in work on machine 5 and block 6 of the aforementioned plant, including components for turbines and generators. The participant described the results as "very promising."
Despite the official discourse on energy transformation, Cubans continue to face prolonged blackouts, while the deterioration of thermoelectric plants persists, along with breakdowns, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages.
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