More than Half of Cuba Without Power
and the electrical system on the verge of collapse
Many Cubans complain on social media and in statements to independent media about being without electricity for up to a day or more.
By Raul Medina Orama (El Toque)
HAVANA TIMES – For two consecutive days, more than half of the island has been without power, according to estimates from the Electric Union (UNE). The country faced another day of blackouts on Thursday, February 13, 2025, with possible outages affecting more than 56% of the national territory.
The energy crisis is leaving the worst numbers of the year in terms of generation deficits and real outages during the first half of February. Let alone in production figures in most sectors of the economy.
UNE admitted on February 13: “The electricity service was affected during the 24 hours of yesterday and remained so throughout the early morning today. The maximum disruption was 1,779 MW at 7:20 p.m.” For today, Thursday, they expect a deficit of 1,740 MW during peak demand (afternoon-evening) and an estimated outage of 1,810 MW. The figures translate into massive power outages.
Lazaro Guerra Hernandez, a Ministry of Energy and Mines official, said on television that “the system’s generation is low” because nine units of the thermoelectric plants remain out of service, “five with breakdowns and four under maintenance.”
Additionally, the two floating power plants in Havana are not operating “due to a lack of fuel.” These ships were rented by the Cuban government from the Turkish company Karpowership (a subsidiary of Karadeniz Holding for naval operations). The official said they expect them to be operational by Friday. Furthermore, the fuel oil engines located in Mariel, which generate about 110 MW, also lack fuel to operate, and there is no diesel available for the generators, according to Lazaro Guerra.
According to data from UNE compiled and analyzed by elTOQUE, during February there have been daily outages ranging from 1,362 MW to 1,770 MW (a record on February 12). This month, no day has seen less than 41% of the country without power during peak demand hours.
A Full Day (and More) Without Electricity in Cuba
Many Cubans complain on social media and in statements to independent media about being without electricity for up to a day or more.
A resident of Consolación del Sur (Pinar del Río) told elTOQUE that the extensive blackouts affecting “more than half of the province” disrupt daily life, including food preparation and his work as a shoemaker.
“Often I have to borrow money to pay the State for the work permit, while the thermoelectric plants in the country are out of service, and we’ve been without power for almost a month,” lamented the person, who has a hearing impairment and requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.
He also criticized that almost no one “has gas canisters to cook. Is there any hope of solving the power issue? The gas sales points tell people, when buying fuel, that ‘it has to last’ for five months. That’s an abuse!”
Jose Ortiz Benet, a resident of Manzanillo, Granma, posted on Facebook that since Wednesday, they’ve been without power for “almost 24 hours” in his circuit.
“Bread and charcoal are now even more scarce on the streets. (…) The vendors shout in a low, almost imperceptible, and fast voice, selling bread. Several merchants have closed their businesses. This morning began without potable water, and in the neighborhood, hardly anyone is up, exhausted from a lack of sleep,” he described the impact of the blackouts in his community.
Cienfuegos is another province heavily affected, according to complaints sent to elTOQUE and reports from the local Electric Company (which has admitted at least 25 continuous hours of blackouts).
Jorge Alberto Amador Valdes, a resident of the Cumbre circuit (Placetas municipality) in Villa Clara, wrote on Facebook: “It seems like they’ve completely disconnected us from the national grid because we’ve been without power for 24 hours.” Another user commented: “Circuit 1 has been without power for 27 hours.”
In Havana, which is generally less affected than other cities, blackouts have also increased, with scheduled six-hour outages during the day and some unscheduled ones at night, according to elTOQUE.
Engineer Lazaro Guerra stated on the Buenos Días television program that “by tomorrow [Friday], they might have three generating units in Nuevitas and one in Rente up and running”; he promised “a higher level of generation.” However, the official admitted that there would still be “many disruptions.”
Cuba’s energy crisis is systemic and has worsened over the past five years. In 2024, there were several instances where more than 50% of the service was affected due to generation deficits, with three nationwide system collapses that plunged the country into a near-total blackout for days.
First published in Spanish by El Toque and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.
Hello Stephen, I just realized that your email and the Stephen that answered you above are using emails that don’t seem to be legit. Please use a real email to continue commenting. Best regards, Circles
Stephen, both your and Stephen Falcon’s emails appear to be false. To continue commenting use a full name and a real email. Thanks, Circles
Stephen Falcon poses some thought provoking questions:
“What normal feasibility studies were conducted for building the empty new hotels?” The mentality of an authoritarian totalitarian regime is: We – the totalitarian rulers – decide what is best for Cuba (Cuba in this scenario being the all encompassing euphemism for the totalitarian rulers). Hence, no “normal” feasibility studies are needed since the totalitarian regime’s rulers have the “insight and intelligence “ to make the “right” decisions.
And of course a short historical background check in the last 66 years shows the exact opposite to be true. However, the totalitarian regime’s propaganda machine will, in the media like the Cuban television talk show “Mesa Redonda” (Round Table), constantly convey delusional decisions that must be supported however outlandish they may be.
“Who were the architects, engineers, urban planners, economists that recommended this course of action?”Probably the ones with significant ties to the totalitarian regime’s rulers. Those that appear as government approved guests on Cuban media. They will spout what the totalitarian rulers want to hear. What architects, engineers, urban planners, economists who want to keep their jobs will oppose the totalitarian regime’s Party line? Next to none.
In a two valued totalitarian political system you as a professional either agree with the totalitarian regime’s policies, however delusional they may be, or you are against what is taking place in which case one keeps quiet. Or, if one has the temerity and courage to vociferously voice an opposing opinion let it be known that job prospects will become nullified. In fact country expulsion may take place.
One only has to read HT’s article “I Fled Cuba’s Media Repression to Remain Being a Journalist.” to witness what happens when a professional Cuban journalist – Jose Luis Tan Estrada – does not tow the Party line.
“What new methodology of feasibility assessment did they use, and what consultations did they have with the representatives of the people?” Everyone knows the answer here: Absolutely zero.
You may have been a bit facetious in posing this question. Totalitarian regimes do not consult meaningfully with the people. That is a fact. Oh, yes, the Cuban totalitarian regime certainly has people representatives sitting on local committees. When Diaz-Canel addresses the Assembly of Representatives they all clap in unisons. These Representatives are simple window dressing to show the outside world that the Cuban government takes their citizens concerns seriously. Balderdash to that. Has anyone seen an Assembly member in the multitude of Assembly members not clap?
Stephen, you are absolutely correct. The incompetence, arrogance, ineptness, mismanagement, and on, and on . . . ad negative nauseam of the Cuban country in the past 60 plus years has resulted in a complete breakdown in the economic and social fabric of the nation. As you rightly point out it’s the majority of Cubans citizens who must endure and suffer the daily unbearable consequences.
These Cuban totalitarian regime cadres have indeed lost contact with reality and with the majority of Cuban citizens. There is such a wide disparity between the people and their supposed representatives that either one continues to hopelessly grin and bear it, or if one has the resources – flee. Both decisions not good options for Cuba’s future.
Jeff: It’s a very nice sentiment but there’s greater than a 50% chance the charity would be owned by the Cuban military – like most of the hotels. Cuba is running out of dollars (if they haven’t already) so confiscation of all, or the vast majority, of the donations is highly likely. Even remittances from abroad are handled by intermediary financial transfer companies owned by the military. The best way to get money into the hands of the locals is to be on the ground in Cuba, but even just getting there is becoming increasingly expensive. Have a look at a week’s vacation anywhere in Cuba from Canada – the charges are absolutely ridiculous for an island sinking by the day. It’s partly due to the declining Canadian dollar but also the scalping of vacationers by the regime.
Cuba, Canadians are ready to help. Tell us what do to.
Are there registered charities that we can donate to that will specifically help with this?
The consequences of certain errors in statecraft are merciless. Unfortunately it’s the people who pay a heavy price.
The Raulistas had to have known that the main electric plant (Antonio Guiteras) was antiquated and a complete replacement was needed. Yet in their supreme wisdom they rather decided to build new hotels instead, and throw away money in never-ending costly repairs to the electric plant! What normal feasibility studies were conducted for building the empty new hotels? Who were the architects, engineers, urban planners, economists that recommended this course of action? What new methodology of feasibility assessment did they use, and what consultations did they have with the representatives of the people? The corruption of cronyism, a privileged demographic and bureaucratic existence and loss of contact with reality and the people are as much to blame as the intensified US onslaught!