Cuba experienced a catastrophic nationwide power outage on Monday night as the country’s aging electrical grid suffered complete systemic failure. The collapse left all 11 million residents without electricity, marking the third major blackout incident within just four months.
According to official statements from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the grid experienced a ‘complete disconnection’ that required emergency efforts to restart thermoelectric plants. By late Monday, partial restoration had been achieved with approximately 42,000 customers (roughly 5% of Havana) and several critical healthcare facilities regaining power. However, officials cautioned that the restored circuits remained highly unstable and vulnerable to additional failures.
The crisis stems from Cuba’s deteriorating energy infrastructure, which has exceeded its operational lifespan amid chronic fuel shortages and limited access to essential spare parts. President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed last week that the nation had not received oil shipments for three consecutive months, forcing increased reliance on solar energy, natural gas, and thermoelectric generation—sources that have proven insufficient to meet national demand.
The blackout has exacerbated existing humanitarian concerns, with hospitals compelled to postpone surgeries and households facing food spoilage due to refrigeration failures. The energy crisis unfolds against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions, with the United States maintaining restrictions on oil shipments and demanding political reforms. Former President Trump’s characterization of Cuba as a ‘very weakened nation’ underscores the complex international dynamics influencing the current situation.