Cuba Faces Severe Power Outages Amid Ongoing Crisis
Cuban Residents Endure Another Nationwide Blackout
Leoni Alberto, a resident of Havana, expressed his frustration, stating, “Life remains unchanged. We are trapped in the same cycle.” He was sitting outside his home at dawn after experiencing yet another night without electricity. Cooking with firewood multiple times a week, he described the situation as “absolute madness.” Similar scenes unfolded throughout the Cuban capital on Sunday as citizens dealt with yet another nationwide blackout, the second occurrence within a week. Early risers filled the streets, sitting on their doorsteps, chatting with neighbors, and swatting mosquitoes, while large parts of the city remained in darkness and without communication.
The Cuban government announced that efforts to restore electricity commenced early Sunday after the grid collapsed on Saturday evening at 6:32 p.m. due to a failure at a significant power plant in Nuevitas, located in Camaguey province. This outage caused a domino effect, leaving approximately 10 million residents without power.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported the establishment of microsystems—smaller, closed circuits—across all provinces to ensure electricity supply to essential services such as hospitals, water systems, and food distribution. Gas-fired plants in Varadero and Boca de Jaruco were operational, and electricity had been restored to the Santa Cruz oil-fired plant.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero acknowledged that the recovery efforts were being conducted under “very complex circumstances,” highlighting the pressure on the country’s fragile and aging power infrastructure. Many areas experienced a near-total loss of cellular and internet services, leaving residents isolated and struggling to access information. The ongoing outages have severely disrupted daily life, compelling residents to adjust to prolonged periods without electricity.
Cuba's electrical grid has faced instability for several months, but experiencing two nationwide blackouts within a week signifies a significant decline. The outage on Saturday marked the third major power failure this month, following a system collapse earlier in March and another incident earlier this week. The crisis has been exacerbated by fuel shortages attributed to a U.S. oil blockade that has limited supplies to the island. Cuban officials attribute the deteriorating system to the embargo, while the United States cites structural problems within Cuba’s economy.
In response to the recent crisis and ongoing power cuts, rare public dissent emerged, with locals banging pots and pans in central Havana on Monday. In the town of Morón, protesters also attacked and set fire to the Communist Party headquarters on the same day, according to reports. Unauthorized demonstrations are prohibited in Cuba, and those who defy this ban risk imprisonment.