Cuba Faces Widespread Blackouts, Affecting Up to 70% of the...

Qué pasó

Cuba is facing another Sunday of severe electricity blackouts, with projections indicating that up to 70% of the country could be without power during peak demand hours. This situation follows closely on the heels of a total national grid collapse just days prior.

This marks the seventh complete blackout of the year, compounded by numerous partial failures that have further strained electricity generation.

Dónde y cuándo

The prolonged blackouts are affecting the entire island, with specific impacts varying by region. This particular situation is anticipated for Sunday, August 9, 2026, during the evening peak demand period.

In Havana, some blackouts have already exceeded 20 consecutive hours, with reports from other provinces indicating even longer periods without electricity.

Por qué es importante

The persistent energy crisis is severely impacting daily life and the Cuban economy. Prolonged power outages paralyze businesses, small enterprises, and industries, hindering essential services like food and water distribution.

This exacerbates an already struggling economy, which has experienced a contraction of nearly 15% between 2020 and 2025.

Qué dicen las partes

The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasts that available generation capacity will be only 1,015 megawatts (MW) during peak hours, significantly short of the estimated 3,250 MW demand. The deficit is 2,235 MW, with planned outages totaling 2,265 MW to prevent further collapse.

The report highlights that seven of the country's 16 thermoelectric units are non-operational due to breakdowns or maintenance. These units are crucial, contributing about 40% of national generation.

Qué viene ahora

The crisis is attributed to a combination of factors, including insufficient investment, inadequate maintenance, and aging infrastructure. Decades of underfunding have left the national electric system extremely fragile.

While fuel shortages are a major contributing factor, the underlying systemic issues require substantial and sustained solutions to ensure stable power supply in the future.