Cuba endures massive power shortages as outages grip Matanzas and Havana

The Cuban electricity system is confronting a severe shortage, with the state utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasting a peak‑hour deficit of more than 2,100 MW for Sunday, the fifth consecutive period exceeding 2,000 MW. Nine thermal units remain offline due to breakdowns or maintenance, including the main Antonio Guiteras plant, while fuel shortages keep another 1,203 MW of capacity unavailable. The grid is expected to have only 980 MW available against a 3,100 MW peak demand, creating a shortfall of about 2,120 MW.

In Matanzas province, residents have endured extended blackouts, some circuits experiencing up to 70 hours without power. Eight substations are out of service—four due to structural failures and four because of stolen dielectric oil—and 63 transformers are damaged. The province also faces fuel deficits that hamper transportation of essential food supplies, delaying the distribution of over 500 tonnes of rice. Banking services for pensioners are slowed, with only 80‑90 % of payments processed.

The power crisis has sparked nightly protests, including cacerolazos in Havana’s Old Town and other districts, as citizens express growing frustration over the unreliable electricity and associated hardships.