Cuba Faces Massive Blackout as Power Grid Fails Again

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Cuba Faces Massive Blackout as Power Grid Fails Again \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Millions of Cubans remain without power after a nationwide blackout struck the island Friday night, marking the fourth major outage in six months. The Ministry of Energy and Mines attributed the failure to an issue at a Havana substation, but experts cite fuel shortages and aging infrastructure as the root causes. Authorities are gradually restoring power through localized “microsystems”, but food spoilage and daily disruptions remain a concern. The blackout comes amid Cuba’s worsening economic crisis, which has been exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, inflation, and fuel shortages.

Cuba’s Latest Power Crisis – Quick Looks

A massive blackout left millions without electricity Friday night, marking Cuba’s fourth nationwide outage since October.
The Cuban government blamed the failure on a substation in Havana, while experts point to fuel shortages and aging power plants.
Authorities are restoring power through “microsystems”, with limited electricity available in some provinces.
Cuban families face food spoilage as refrigerators lose power, raising concerns over food security amid the ongoing economic crisis.
Businesses, gas stations, and stores remained open Saturday, with some relying on battery backups or small generators.
The blackout follows a February energy crisis, where the government suspended classes and work activities due to power shortages.
Cuba’s struggling economy, worsened by COVID-19, inflation, and U.S. sanctions, has led to severe energy instability.

Deep Look

Millions of Cubans were left in total darkness Friday night, as a nationwide power outage crippled the island’s already fragile energy grid. The blackout—Cuba’s fourth in just six months—has once again exposed the country’s aging infrastructure, worsening fuel shortages, and deepening economic crisis.

While government officials attributed the outage to a substation failure in Havana, energy experts say the true cause runs much deeper—the result of years of neglect, U.S. sanctions, and a failing economic system struggling to maintain basic services.

As officials scramble to restore power, many Cubans are facing critical shortages of food, water, and communication, with fears growing that this could be just the beginning of a more prolonged energy collapse.

A Country in Darkness: How the Blackout Unfolded

At around 8 p.m. local time on Friday, reports began flooding social media of widespread power failures across Cuba.

Entire provinces went dark almost simultaneously, affecting millions of residents from Havana to Santiago de Cuba.
Internet and phone service became unstable, with many struggling to reach loved ones.
Gas stations remained open, but some ran out of fuel, leading to long lines and growing concerns over supply shortages.
The tunnel under Havana Bay, which connects the city center to outlying areas, was left in complete darkness, raising major safety concerns.

The Cuban Electricity Union (UNE) initially remained silent, but by early Saturday, they issued a vague statement blaming a failure at a Havana substation.

“The strategy is to create ‘microsystems’ that will connect to each other to gradually restore electricity across the country,” the UNE announced.

But as of Saturday evening, vast parts of the country remained without power, and residents were growing increasingly desperate.

Why Do These Blackouts Keep Happening?

Cuba’s energy system has been on the brink of collapse for years, but recent developments have pushed it to a breaking point.

1. Aging Infrastructure & Years of Neglect

Most of Cuba’s power plants are over 30 years old, relying on outdated Soviet-era technology that frequently breaks down.
Limited investment in new infrastructure has left the system fragile and unreliable.
Repairs are often delayed or incomplete, leading to regular cascading failures.

“Our energy grid is like an old car that hasn’t been maintained—eventually, it’s just going to stop working,” said a Cuban energy expert who wished to remain anonymous.

2. Fuel Shortages & Global Economic Pressures

Cuba relies heavily on imported fuel, much of which comes from Venezuela, its closest ally.
But Venezuela’s oil production has plummeted, forcing Cuba to cut back on electricity generation.
The ongoing war in Ukraine and global fuel price spikes have made energy imports even more expensive, leaving the country struggling to secure enough supply.

In February, officials suspended schools and government work for two days due to a 50% electricity shortage—a clear sign that the crisis was worsening.

3. U.S. Sanctions & Economic Collapse

The tightening of U.S. sanctions under the Trump and Biden administrations has severely restricted Cuba’s access to financial resources.
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the tourism industry, which was a major source of government revenue.
Inflation has skyrocketed, making it harder for everyday Cubans to afford basic necessities.

“We don’t have food, we don’t have medicine, and now we don’t even have power,” said one Havana resident. “How much worse can it get?”

Survival in the Dark: How Cubans Are Coping

For many Cubans, blackouts are nothing new—but this one feels different, lasting longer than usual and affecting larger areas.

Food Concerns & Refrigeration Issues

With temperatures in Cuba reaching over 85°F (29°C) during the day, the biggest immediate concern is food spoilage.

Most Cuban families rely on electric stoves, making it impossible to cook during an outage.
Meat, dairy, and other perishable foods could spoil within hours.
Many fridges and freezers have already begun to thaw, raising serious food security concerns.

“I was just about to cook spaghetti when the lights went out,” said Cecilia Duquense, a 79-year-old housewife in Havana. “And now what?”

Businesses Struggle to Stay Open

Many small businesses, markets, and restaurants have been forced to close due to lack of power.
Some are operating on battery backups or small generators, but these only last for a few hours.
Shoppers rushed to buy food Saturday, fearing that the blackout could stretch into days.

“We are very worried that if the blackout lasts much longer, the food will go bad,” said Frank García, a 26-year-old market worker.

Communication & Transportation Challenges

Internet and phone services remain intermittent, making it difficult for people to contact family members.
The Havana Bay Tunnel remains dark, forcing many commuters to find alternative routes.

Will the Power Come Back? What Happens Next?

Cuban officials are working to restore power using a “microsystem” strategy, meaning they will gradually reconnect different sections of the grid.

Short-Term Solutions

Some provinces, including Guantánamo, Santiago, and Las Tunas, have already restored limited power.
Officials hope to fully restore electricity in the coming days, but no exact timeline has been provided.

Long-Term Challenges

However, experts warn that even when power is restored, Cuba’s energy crisis is far from over.

More blackouts are likely in the coming months as fuel shortages persist.
Major infrastructure overhauls are needed, but the government lacks the resources to fund repairs.
If global fuel prices remain high, Cuba’s economic struggles will only intensify.

“This is just the beginning,” said a Cuban energy analyst. “If drastic changes aren’t made, blackouts like this will become the norm, not the exception.”