Cuba to register blackouts affecting up to 65% of the island on Sunday

Cuba is bracing for another day of extensive power outages, with projections indicating that up to 65% of the island could be disconnected from the grid during peak demand hours on Sunday. This marks a continuation of a deep energy crisis that has plagued the nation since mid-2024, exacerbated by a U.S. oil blockade that the United Nations deems contrary to international law.

While the U.S. blockade is cited as a significant factor, the article also points to decades of underinvestment in aging thermoelectric power plants due to the Cuban government's economic policies. These outdated facilities are prone to frequent breakdowns, contributing heavily to the ongoing energy deficit.

For weeks, blackouts have affected over 60% of the country, with some areas in Havana experiencing outages exceeding 20 hours. Provinces like Matanzas have reported consecutive blackouts lasting up to three days. The state-run Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasts a generation capacity of 1,150 megawatts against a demand of 3,200 megawatts for the "peak" period, necessitating the disconnection of 2,080 megawatts to prevent uncontrolled grid collapse.

Currently, nine of the country's 16 thermoelectric generation units are inoperable due to breakdowns or maintenance. These units, responsible for 40% of the energy mix, rely on domestic crude oil and are thus unaffected by the U.S. blockade. However, another 40% of the mix, dependent on imported diesel and fuel oil, is directly impacted. The remaining 20% comes from natural gas and renewables, with a recent push for solar energy supported by China.

The Cuban government acknowledges the severity of the situation, describing the national electro-energetic system as "acute," "critical," and "extremely tense." The island requires over 100,000 barrels of oil daily, with domestic production supplying only about 40,000 barrels. The last significant oil shipment arrived in March, providing only about two weeks of energy supply. The persistent energy crisis has severely hampered Cuba's state-run economy, which is projected to contract further.