After the brief relief recorded between December 31 and January 1, the generation deficit skyrockets again, while citizen unrest grows.
MADRID, Spain.- The energy crisis in Cuba intensifies again this January 2, after a brief decrease in the effects recorded on December 31 and January 1, when the Government partially reduced blackouts during the end of the year celebrations. According to the daily report of the Electrical Union (UNE), the National Electrical System (SEN) once again faces a critical generation deficit that will cause prolonged and simultaneous outages in large areas of the country.
According to official information, for the hours of greatest demand—afternoon and night—an availability of only 1,550 MW is expected, compared to an estimated demand of 2,950 MW, which implies a deficit of 1,400 MW. Consequently, the UNE estimates an impact of up to 1,430 MW, which is equivalent to simultaneous blackouts in about 48% of the national territory.
The report indicates that several thermoelectric units They remain out of service due to breakdowns and maintenance, including key plants such as Felton, Mariel, Santa Cruz and Cienfuegos. Added to this is the paralysis of 79 distributed generation plants due to lack of fuel, as well as the unavailability of electric plants due to lack of diesel and lubricants.
The temporary reduction in blackouts at the end of December was perceived by many citizens as a momentary relief. However, the almost immediate return of the cuts has reinforced the feeling that it was a temporary adjustment and not a structural improvement of the system.
This perception is reflected in the comments of Cuban users in the official publication of the UNE, where fatigue, indignation and distrust predominate. Several point out that availability “has already started to decline” as soon as the year begins, others report that nighttime blackouts have become routine and that “eating in the dark” has become normal. There are also criticisms of fuel management and the use of brushes, as well as questions about the indefinite duration of maintenance.
For millions of Cubans, the beginning of 2026 confirms that, after the end-of-year parenthesis, blackouts once again mark daily life, with no signs of a short-term solution.
