Cuba is facing a prolonged blackout in 61% of its entire territory on this Friday, one of the largest electrical impacts recorded in its recent history. The state-owned Union Electric (UNE) confirmed that during the hours of highest energy demand, up to 61% of the country will remain without simultaneous electrical supply, an increase from the 59% registered at the beginning of the week and the peak of 67% suffered two days ago.
Causes and dimensions of the energy crisis
The energy crisis that Cuba has been suffering since mid-2024 is motivated by multiple structural factors. Mainly, the breakdowns in obsolete thermal power plants and the insufficiency of foreign exchange for the purchase of oil have undermined the generation capacity. Currently, seven of the 16 operational thermal power plants are out of service due to maintenance and failures, representing a substantial deficit in generation.
According to the UNE, during the peak hours in the afternoon-evening, a generation capacity of only 1,392 megawatts (MW) is available, while the maximum demand forecast is 3,400 MW. This imbalance generates a deficit of 2,008 MW, which forces the disconnection of up to 2,078 MW to avoid chaotic blackouts.
Impacted energy sources
In addition to the thermal power plants, 97 distributed generation centers, which operate with diesel and fuel oil motors, are paralyzed due to fuel and lubricant shortages. These motors represent around 40% of Cuba’s energy mix, just like the thermal power plants, which exacerbates the crisis.
Contextual economic and political context
Independent experts attribute this crisis to the chronic underfunding of Cuba’s state-owned energy sector, which lacks sufficient investment for decades. Some studies estimate that between $8,000 and $10,000 million are needed to revitalize the electrical system. On the other hand, the Cuban government blames the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, denouncing a policy of “energy asphyxiation” that affects access to inputs.
Social repercussions and perspectives
This blackout in 61% of its entire territory poses a challenge to the Cuban population and economy, whose access to reliable energy is critical for basic services, industrial production, and quality of life. The problem worsens in December, a month of high energy demand. The authorities face the difficult task of managing energy distribution to minimize damage while attempting to reactivate productive units.
Without immediate solutions, the crisis could prolong and deepen, forcing Cuban society to adapt to these frequent cuts. The magnitude of the blackout in 61% of its entire territory reflects the gravity of a sector that requires urgent investment and policies to ensure its long-term sustainability.
The Government continues to emphasize the need to alleviate external sanctions to recover capacity and normalize the electrical service affecting a large part of the country.
