Cuba Restores National Grid But Expects Widespread Blackouts

Cuba reconnected its National Electroenergetic System (SEN) on Sunday morning, ending nearly 40 hours of widespread blackouts. However, the state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE) warned that over half the country, 55%, would still experience power outages during peak demand hours in the afternoon and evening.

The nation has been grappling with a severe energy crisis since mid-2024, worsened by a U.S. oil blockade imposed in January. This has led to unprecedented electricity cuts, with some areas experiencing over 35 consecutive hours without power, and others up to three days. The government has acknowledged the critical state of the SEN, and citizens have responded with increasingly frequent protests demanding basic services.

For Sunday, UNE projected a generation capacity of 1,473 megawatts against a demand of 3,200 megawatts, resulting in a deficit of 1,727 megawatts. This shortfall is expected to lead to planned disconnections totaling 1,757 megawatts. Compounding the issue, seven of the country's sixteen thermoelectric generation units are currently offline due to breakdowns or ongoing maintenance.

These persistent issues stem from the aging infrastructure of Cuba's thermoelectric plants, many of which have been in operation for decades without adequate investment. This leads to frequent breakdowns in units that supply 40% of the energy mix using domestic crude oil. The other 40% relies on diesel and imported fuel oil for generation engines, which are currently stalled due to a lack of raw materials, a consequence of U.S. pressure. The remaining 20% of the energy mix comes from gas and renewable sources, partly with Chinese support. Independent estimates suggest that between $8 billion and $10 billion are needed to revitalize the national power grid.