Cuba Launches Power Restoration After Third Nationwide Grid Collapse in a Month

Cuba is once again grappling with a widespread power outage after its national electricity grid failed for the third time in March, underscoring the fragility of the island’s energy system amid ongoing fuel shortages and geopolitical pressures.

Authorities said early Sunday that efforts were underway to restore electricity across the country, following a cascading failure that left millions without power.

Nationwide Blackout Triggered by Power Plant Failure

The outage began Saturday evening at approximately 6:32 p.m. ET, when a major power plant in Nuevitas, located in Camagüey province, went offline. According to Cuba’s national grid operator, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE), the failure triggered a chain reaction that shut down the entire system.

The collapse cut electricity to nearly all of Cuba’s population of about 10 million people.

By comparison, a blackout of this scale would be equivalent to a province-wide outage in Canada affecting millions — a rare occurrence given Canada’s more robust and interconnected grid infrastructure.

Emergency Measures Focus on Essential Services

Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines said it had begun restoring limited power through localized “microsystems” — smaller, self-contained grids designed to supply electricity to critical services.

These systems are being used to prioritize hospitals, water supply networks and food distribution centres.

Officials added that two gas-fired plants operated by Energas were functioning in Varadero and Boca de Jaruco. Electricity had also been partially restored to the nearby Santa Cruz oil-fired plant.

Daily Life Disrupted Across Havana

In Havana, residents woke early Sunday to another day without reliable electricity. Streets filled with people seeking relief from stifling homes, many gathering on doorsteps to talk with neighbours.

With limited access to fans or air conditioning, even cooler morning temperatures offered little comfort. Mosquitoes added to the discomfort as residents coped with the prolonged outage.

“Life doesn’t change. We’re stuck in the same rut,” said Havana resident Leoni Alberto, describing a routine shaped by repeated blackouts. She noted that she often resorts to cooking with firewood several times a week.

Telecommunications were also heavily affected, with cellphone and internet services largely unavailable in many areas, further isolating communities.

Third Major Outage in March

Saturday’s failure marks the third major grid collapse in Cuba this month.

Earlier in March, a significant portion of the system went offline after a breakdown at a key thermoelectric plant. Days later, another nationwide outage occurred for reasons that remain unclear.

While Cuba has experienced periodic blackouts in recent years, multiple system-wide failures in such a short span are highly unusual.

For context, even during extreme weather events in Canada — such as ice storms or heat waves — utilities typically restore service in stages within hours or days, rather than facing repeated total system collapses.

Energy Crisis Deepened by Oil Shortages

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero described the current recovery effort as taking place under “very complex circumstances,” pointing to ongoing fuel shortages.

The situation has been exacerbated by reduced oil supplies from Venezuela, historically one of Cuba’s key energy partners. Recent U.S. measures have targeted oil shipments to the island, including restrictions on Venezuelan exports and warnings to other countries considering similar trade.

The loss of subsidized Venezuelan oil has placed additional strain on Cuba’s already aging and inefficient energy infrastructure.

Longstanding Economic Pressures

Cuban officials have long argued that the U.S. trade embargo has significantly hindered investment in infrastructure, including the modernization of its power grid.

U.S. authorities, however, attribute Cuba’s economic challenges to structural issues within its state-controlled economy.

Regardless of the cause, the result is a system increasingly prone to breakdowns, leaving residents to contend with frequent and prolonged outages.

Outlook Remains Uncertain

As restoration efforts continue, many Cubans remain uncertain about when stable electricity service will return.

The repeated failures highlight deeper systemic issues that are unlikely to be resolved quickly without significant investment and a more reliable fuel supply.

For now, residents across the island are bracing for continued disruptions, as authorities work to stabilize a grid under mounting pressure.