Cuba will face a new day of widespread blackouts this Saturday, with cuts that could simultaneously leave up to 67.5% of the island without electricity during peak energy demand hours.
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The island’s state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE) projected a generation capacity of just 1,070 megawatts for the afternoon and evening, while maximum demand would reach 3,200 MW. To avoid disorderly system failures, the company estimates an impact of up to 2,160 MW.
The deficit occurs amid a prolonged energy crisis that keeps homes and businesses subjected to extensive outages. In Havana, interruptions typically last between 22 and 23 hours daily, while in other provinces they can extend for several consecutive days.
Thermoelectric generation, which provides about 40% of the country’s energy, is affected by breakdowns and maintenance work accumulated after years of lack of investment.
During this day, 11 of the 16 thermoelectric generation units are not operational. Added to this is the lack of fuel for distributed generation systems, based on generator sets that use imported diesel and fuel oil.
Another UNE report indicated that 106 distributed generation plants remained out of service due to lack of fuel.
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The remaining 20% of the Cuban energy matrix comes from gas and renewable sources, mainly solar energy developed with China’s support.
Cuba has been experiencing an energy crisis since mid-2024, related to the deterioration of its infrastructure, lack of investment, and difficulties in importing fuels.
Independent experts estimate that fully recovering the National Electro-energy System would require an investment of between 8,000 and 10,000 million dollars.
The situation has also impacted productive activity. Estimates project that the Cuban state economy could contract by at least 6.5% during 2026, after an accumulated drop of more than 15% in the previous five years.
During July, the electrical system also suffered three total collapses —on the 6th, 10th, and 14th— which left about 9.6 million people without service in each episode.
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