Cuba's largest blackout Wednesday to leave 68% of island without power

Cuba is bracing for another day of severe electricity shortages, with projections indicating that a major blackout on Wednesday will leave 68% of the island without power. Residents are expected to have only around two hours of electricity daily, a stark illustration of the nation's deepening energy crisis.

The island has been grappling with energy instability for two years, a situation exacerbated since January by what the government describes as an "oil blockade" imposed by the United States. The state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE), under the Ministry of Energy and Mines, has characterized the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) as "critical." In Havana, blackouts have reportedly reached 42 hours, with some areas experiencing continuous outages exceeding 25 hours.

According to the UNE report, the projected generation capacity for Wednesday's peak demand is 990 megawatts (MW), while the maximum demand is estimated at 3,000 MW. This substantial deficit of 2,010 MW is expected to result in 2,040 MW being disconnected to prevent uncontrolled grid collapse. The crisis stems from a combination of structural issues, including a heavily outdated power generation system, and external pressures, specifically the U.S. sanctions affecting fuel imports.

Cuba's thermoelectric power plants, mostly built in the 1960s and 70s and suffering from chronic underinvestment, are prone to frequent breakdowns. Currently, ten of the country's sixteen generation units are offline. While domestic crude oil powers some of the mix, the majority relies on imported diesel and fuel oil, which have been severely impacted by U.S. pressure since January. Renewable sources and gas account for the remaining 20% of the energy mix.