At 2:00 PM on Tuesday, approximately 26 hours after the total disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN), the province of Las Tunas was reconnected to the grid. The Las Tunas Electric Company confirmed the news and detailed the circuits that were already receiving service in the territory.

The following circuits were restored: TK18, which supplies the communities of Las 40 and Sosa; TK26, which covers the Southern Ring Road up to La Larga; and TK24, corresponding to the Santo Domingo neighborhood. The company stated that work will continue to gradually restore service as system conditions allow.

SIGNIFICANT ADVANCE IN NATIONAL INTERCONNECTION

The recovery process reached a significant milestone around 3:00 p.m., when the National Electric Union reported that the Electrical System was interconnected from Pinar del Río to Holguín. This progress represents the restoration of electrical service to more than two-thirds of the national territory, encompassing the western and central-eastern provinces.

The achieved interconnection allows power generation to flow through the national electrical grid, facilitating the distribution of service to the provinces within this area. This step is essential to consolidating the stability of the system and moving toward full recovery.

Around 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the National Electric Union reported that the Felton thermoelectric plant, located in the province of Holguín, had begun startup. This plant is essential for providing electricity to Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo, the easternmost Cuban provinces. Until now, the system only reached Holguín, but the addition of this thermoelectric plant will enable the definitive connection to eastern Cuba.

The Electric Union also reported that, at 8:40 p.m., Unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos was online. The addition of this generating unit contributes to increasing the system's generation capacity and reducing the energy deficit that still affects the country.

SERVICE DISRUPTIONS PERSIST

Despite the progress in the recovery, the Cuban revolutionary government reported via its Facebook page that service disruptions continue due to the significant generation deficit that persists. This situation means that, although the system is interconnected in a large part of the country, the generation capacity is insufficient to cover the entire demand.

The generation deficit is a consequence of the limited availability of operating units, many of which are in the process of startup or stabilization. Circuit rotation and planned blackouts will continue to be necessary until sufficient generation capacity is brought online to meet demand.

CONTEXT OF THE ENERGY CRISIS IN CUBA

The collapse on Monday, July 6, 2026, constitutes the sixth such event since September 2022. The series of total disconnections of the National Electric System (SEN) demonstrates its fragility, affected by the aging of generating plants, fuel shortages, and the limitations imposed by the United States blockade.

The energy blockade, as Cuban authorities have denounced on numerous occasions, limits access to fuels such as diesel and fuel oil, essential for the operation of thermoelectric and distributed generation plants. It also restricts the acquisition of spare parts and components for the maintenance of the electrical infrastructure, hindering the necessary repair and modernization work.

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, has emphasized that the recovery of the National Electric System (SEN) requires time and strict adherence to technical protocols. Sector authorities have called on the people to remain understanding given the complexity of the situation and the need to prioritize vital services during the restoration process.

PRIORITIZED SERVICES IN LAS TUNAS

During the hours of greatest disruption, the Las Tunas Electric Company maintained priority on essential services. Hospitals, drinking water sources, and food industries received preferential attention through the operation of the micro-island created in the initial hours of the recovery.

The reconnection of circuits TK18, TK26, and TK24 represents a step forward in normalizing service in the capital of Las Tunas province. However, the Electric Company has warned that the system's stability will depend on generation conditions nationwide and the ability to maintain a balance between electricity supply and demand.

NEXT STEPS IN RECOVERY

The restoration process will continue over the next few hours with the gradual incorporation of more generating units. Once stabilized, the Felton thermoelectric plant will allow the interconnection to be extended to the eastern provinces, thus completing the system's recovery throughout the country.

The Electric Union is constantly monitoring system conditions and continues to implement established protocols to ensure a safe and sustainable recovery. Sector authorities have emphasized that the full restoration of service will not be immediate and that disruptions will persist as long as the generation deficit remains.

Meanwhile, the provinces are continuing with circuit rotation plans to ensure that the population receives at least a few hours of electricity. The understanding and cooperation of citizens are essential at this stage of the recovery process, which is unfolding under complex conditions and requires compliance with all established technical measures.