Cuba is experiencing a nationwide blackout following the complete disconnection of the National Electric System (NES) this past Friday, as reported by the Electric Union (UNE). In the early hours of Saturday, the state-run company announced that service restoration is underway through the use of "microsystems." This strategy aims to supply power to specific areas and essential centers while efforts are made to resume generation at the thermoelectric plants.
So far, 110 MW have been supplied through these microsystems across 12 provinces, according to statements on social media by the company led by Alfredo López Valdés. The UNE highlighted that work is ongoing to progressively connect these isolated systems with the main power plants, aiming to restore the stability of the NES.
This recent collapse of the national electrical system echoes similar events in recent months, such as the massive blackout reported in November 2024, when several provinces were left without power for days. At that time, the government also employed "microsystems" to expedite service recovery in hospitals, water pumping stations, and other critical sectors.
The energy crisis in Cuba has been a persistent issue over the years, marked by frequent failures in thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and maintenance problems within the infrastructure. In October 2024, another widespread outage affected much of the country due to the shutdown of several generating units, starting with the Matanzas thermoelectric plant Antonio Guiteras going offline.
The government has repeatedly stated that they are working on structural solutions for the electrical system; however, breakdowns continue to impact the population. This time, the UNE has not specified when full service might be restored nationwide, although it is expected that reconnecting the microsystems with the power plants will facilitate the process.
Authorities have pledged to provide updates as the recovery of the NES progresses, while Cubans endure another day of uncertainty and hardship due to the lack of electricity across significant parts of the country.
Understanding the Cuban Power Outage Recovery
What are "microsystems" in the context of power restoration?
"Microsystems" refer to a strategy of localizing power supply to specific areas and essential centers, allowing for partial service restoration while major power plants work on resuming full operations.
Why is Cuba experiencing frequent power outages?
Cuba faces recurring power outages due to issues such as failures in thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and maintenance problems within its infrastructure. These challenges have led to a persistent energy crisis.
How does the Cuban government plan to address the energy crisis?
The government claims to be working on structural solutions for the electrical system, though exact plans and timelines have not been clearly specified.