Cuba’s struggling electrical grid set a new record on Tuesday, hitting a power deficit of 2,411 megawatts as the island’s crumbling energy infrastructure continues to deteriorate under the weight of fuel shortages, aging equipment, and a deepening crisis that has left some communities without reliable electricity for over 100 days.
The state-run Union Electrica (UNE) reported that the worst outage occurred at 10:30 PM on Tuesday, surpassing the previous record of 2,380 MW set just one week earlier on July 29. At that time, the grid could only provide 850 MW against a calculated demand of 3,200 MW. The new deficit broke that mark, representing an unprecedented strain on Cuba’s energy system.
Eight thermal power plant blocks are currently out of service due to breakdowns or scheduled maintenance, including units at the Maximo Gomez plant in Mariel, Carlos Manuel de Cespides, Felton, and Rente. These outages alone account for 547 MW of unavailable capacity. Combined with fuel shortages that prevent backup diesel generators from operating, the situation has left the grid in a state of chronic failure.
The record deficit came on the same day that UNE declared the national electrical system restored following two complete grid disconnections within 48 hours. Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy acknowledged that some Cuban communities have endured up to 105 days without electricity, and admitted the country is not receiving the necessary fuel volumes, saying there is simply no energy to distribute.
Cuba’s electricity crisis stems from a combination of factors: the island’s thermal power plants are decades old and lack maintenance, the US energy blockade has restricted fuel imports, and economic difficulties have left the government unable to secure alternative supply. Most Cubans now have power for only a few hours per day at best, with the deficit regularly exceeding 2,000 MW during peak demand periods.
Solar photovoltaic parks provided some relief, generating 3,148 megawatt-hours during the day with a peak output of 490 MW. However, this barely dents the overall shortfall and cannot compensate for the systematic failure of thermal generation capacity that provides the backbone of Cuba’s electricity supply.
The crisis has triggered widespread frustration among the population. Residents in Havana have been sleeping on the Malecon waterfront to escape sweltering homes without fans. The outages disrupt water pumping, food preservation, and medical equipment, with protesters banging pots and pans from balconies in nightly demonstrations. Since late 2024, Cuba has experienced 10 nationwide blackouts, with five occurring in 2026 alone.
Sources: Cuba Headlines, Reuters
discussion