Cuba’s Power Grid Collapses Again, Leaving Millions Without Electricity

Cuba was plunged into darkness on Friday after the country’s national electricity grid suffered another total collapse, leaving millions without power and deepening an energy crisis that has persisted for months.

The failure occurred at about 2 p.m. local time after a fault on high-voltage transmission lines in central Cuba, according to authorities. The disruption quickly spread across the island, bringing the national power system to a halt.

Cuba’s National Electrical Union said restoration protocols had been activated, with efforts beginning to gradually reconnect generating units and restore electricity to affected areas.

By Friday evening, electricity had returned to a limited number of locations in Havana, particularly areas around hospitals, but most of the capital remained without power amid cloudy and rainy conditions.

The latest blackout is one of at least six major partial or nationwide grid failures recorded in Cuba since January. The repeated collapses have compounded the impact of already frequent scheduled and unscheduled power cuts, with some areas experiencing outages lasting more than 30 hours.

Cuba’s electricity system has been weakened by years of ageing infrastructure, limited maintenance and shortages of fuel needed to operate its thermal power plants. The shortage of replacement parts has also made it increasingly difficult to maintain generating facilities and keep the grid stable.

The government has blamed restrictions on fuel supplies and US measures for worsening the electricity crisis. US officials, however, have disputed Cuba’s explanation and have pointed to problems within the country’s state-run economic system.

The consequences of the continuing blackouts extend beyond households. Electricity disruptions have affected water supplies, telecommunications, transportation, businesses and other essential services.

For many Cubans, the latest collapse came after already enduring prolonged outages. Residents in Havana reported receiving electricity for only short periods before the national grid failed again.

Authorities are now working to restore the system gradually, but the repeated failures underline the severe pressure facing Cuba’s electricity infrastructure as the country struggles with fuel shortages and a wider economic crisis.