On Friday night, a widespread disconnection of Cuba's National Electrical System (SEN) occurred due to a malfunction at the Diezmero substation, as reported by the Ministry of Energy and Mines on X. This breakdown led to a significant drop in power generation in western Cuba, resulting in the collapse of the SEN, according to the regime's officials. "Efforts are underway to restore power," they assured.
State-affiliated journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso shared on social media that the SEN disconnection was triggered by high system oscillations. "Investigations are ongoing to determine the causes and extent of the incident," he stated on Facebook. Earlier, Alonso had reported that several provinces were experiencing power outages in multiple municipalities. In response to inquiries on Facebook pages like La Tijera, hundreds of users confirmed the lack of electricity.
Residents from Havana, Guantánamo, Matanzas, Villa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín, and Las Tunas all agreed that their areas were left without power. Some noted that before the complete outage, there were signs of unstable voltage and flickering lights.
Meanwhile, an employee from Holguín's Electric Company explained that after the SEN disconnection, the process involved creating "islands" to first connect to the thermoelectric plants, and then gradually link back to the main system. The last SEN collapse was in December 2024, caused by an unexpected shutdown of the country's largest thermoelectric plant, the Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas. This incident marked the third collapse since October 18, highlighting the severe crisis facing Cuba's electrical sector.
For Friday, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) had anticipated a partial recovery of 160 MW, including bringing unit 6 of the CTE Rente online. However, power availability remained insufficient, with 1,940 MW available against a peak demand of 3,250 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,310 MW and an estimated impact of 1,380 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What caused the recent power outage in Cuba?
The recent power outage in Cuba was caused by a malfunction at the Diezmero substation, which led to a significant drop in power generation in the western part of the country and the eventual collapse of the National Electrical System (SEN).
How are power outages affecting Cuban residents?
Cuban residents are facing widespread blackouts, with reports of unstable voltage and flickering lights before complete outages. Many areas across several provinces, including Havana and Guantánamo, have been left without power.
What measures are being taken to restore power in Cuba?
Efforts to restore power involve creating "islands" to reconnect the thermoelectric plants first and then gradually linking back to the main system. However, power availability remains insufficient to meet the demand.