Cuba Faces Widespread Blackouts Affecting Nearly 69% of Island

Cuba is bracing for another day of extensive power outages, with nearly 69% of the island expected to be affected during the peak demand hours of Sunday evening. The national electro-energetic system (SEN) is currently recovering from a partial disconnection that occurred Saturday due to a fault in 220-kilovolt transmission lines. This disruption left approximately half the island without electricity, impacting around 4.5 million Cubans.

The country has been grappling with a severe energy crisis since mid-2024, which has worsened since January due to an oil embargo imposed by the United States. This U.S. measure has been deemed contrary to international law by the United Nations. Compounding the issue is the aging state of Cuba's thermoelectric power plants, many of which are decades old and have not received necessary investments, leading to frequent breakdowns.

According to the state-run Unión Eléctrica (UNE), Sunday's "peak" hours anticipate a generation capacity of 1,035 megawatts (MW) against a maximum demand of 3,200 MW. This leaves a deficit of 2,165 MW, with an estimated 2,195 MW to be disconnected to prevent cascading blackouts. Currently, nine of the country's sixteen thermoelectric generation units are inoperable due to breakdowns or maintenance. These plants, responsible for 40% of the energy mix, use domestic crude oil and are not directly affected by the oil embargo.

Another 40% of the energy mix relies on diesel and imported fuel oil, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions. The remaining 20% comes from gas and renewable sources, with a recent push towards solar energy supported by China. The Cuban government acknowledges the "acute," "critical," and "extremely tense" situation of its energy system, attributing it to both the U.S. sanctions and its obsolete infrastructure. Independent experts suggest a combination of chronic underfunding and the U.S. blockade contributes to the crisis, while the Cuban government emphasizes the impact of U.S. sanctions, accusing Washington of "energy asphyxiation." The ongoing blackouts are severely paralyzing the economy, which has contracted by 15% in the last five years.