Nationwide Blackout in Cuba: 10 Million Left Without Power Amid Growing Alarm

Nationwide Blackout in Cuba

On Friday, Cuba experienced a widespread power outage that left all 10 million residents without electricity after a critical power plant failed, according to the country’s energy ministry.

In a bid to manage the situation earlier in the day, the government had closed schools and instructed most state employees to stay home, attempting to conserve energy. However, by 11 a.m., the largest power plant went offline, triggering a complete grid failure.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel took to X, emphasizing that resolving the issue is of “absolute priority” and that efforts would continue “without rest” until power is restored.

This blackout is the culmination of months of rolling blackouts that have plagued the island. Many provinces outside Havana have faced outages lasting up to 12 hours, prompting growing frustration among the population. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero cited the aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and rising energy demand as key contributors to the ongoing crisis.

While the demand for electricity has surged, the supply of oil has sharply declined. Venezuela, Cuba's main oil supplier, has cut back on shipments, and contributions from other nations like Russia and Mexico have also dwindled.

Authorities have not provided a timeline for when power will be restored, leaving many residents anxious. In a Havana neighborhood, one man expressed his dismay, stating it felt as though the nation had reached “the bottom of the barrel.” Another woman from Old Havana voiced her fears about the worsening situation, remarking, “I worry we may not yet be at the bottom of this electricity crisis.”

The Cuban government has frequently attributed the island's economic challenges to the longstanding U.S. embargo, which was tightened under Donald Trump. The pandemic further exacerbated issues, decimating the tourism sector—a crucial pillar of the state-controlled economy. With ongoing shortages in food, medicine, and fuel, daily life remains a struggle for many Cubans.

Nationwide Blackout in Cuba: 10 Million Left Without Power Amid Growing Alarm