Cuba suffers second nationwide blackout as grid failure deepens crisis

Havana — Cuba was plunged into darkness for the second time in less than a week on Saturday after its national electricity grid collapsed again, authorities said, highlighting mounting strain on aging infrastructure amid fuel shortages linked to a U.S. oil blockade.

The outage, described by the state-run utility as a “total disconnection” of the national system, was triggered by a failure at a thermoelectric power unit that caused a cascading breakdown across the grid. The Cuban Electric Union said micro-grids were being activated to restore electricity to critical services such as hospitals and water treatment facilities.

Cuba’s power generation relies on eight thermoelectric plants, many operating for more than four decades and prone to repeated breakdowns and maintenance shutdowns. The system has struggled to meet demand, resulting in prolonged daily blackouts.In Havana, outages can last up to 15 hours, while in other parts of the island they can exceed 40 hours, according to local accounts.

As night fell during the latest outage, much of the capital was left without lighting, with residents relying on mobile phone flashlights to navigate streets.Some businesses in tourist areas remained open using generators, but residents described growing frustration with the frequency of disruptions.

“This is becoming unbearable,” said one Havana resident, reflecting widespread fatigue over recurring outages.

The energy crisis has intensified since disruptions to fuel supplies earlier this year. No oil shipments have reached Cuba since January 9, placing additional strain on electricity generation and forcing cutbacks in sectors including aviation and tourism.

The situation has been compounded by geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, while also making remarks supporting political change in Havana. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has warned that any external aggression would be met with resistance.

Maritime tracking data indicated that tankers carrying Russian oil and diesel may be en route to the island, though their status remains unclear.

The repeated outages come amid broader shortages of food, medicine and basic goods, contributing to rising public discontent. Demonstrators vandalised a provincial office of the ruling Communist Party last weekend, underscoring growing tensions.

Despite the disruption, some residents continued working under difficult conditions. Small shopkeepers operated by flashlight, while fishermen cast lines along the darkened coastline, reflecting the persistence of daily life even as the energy crisis deepens.