Cuba Blackout: Nationwide Power Outage Hits Island for Third Time in March
Cuba’s power grid collapsed Saturday, leaving the island nation without electricity for the third time in March, as the government grapples with a decaying infrastructure and the impact of U.S. Sanctions. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) initially announced the total blackout without specifying a cause, later attributing it to a failure at a generating unit within the 10 de Octubre thermoelectric plant in Nuevitas, Camagüey province.
The UNE stated that the failure triggered a “cascading effect” across the online machines, leading to the complete disconnection of the National Electric System (NES) at 6:38 p.m. Local time. Authorities are currently implementing protocols to gradually restore power, activating “micro-islands” – minor, independent generating units – to supply critical infrastructure such as hospitals and water systems, according to a statement released on Facebook.
This latest outage follows a similar nationwide blackout last Monday and marks the second total disconnection of the NES within a single week. The frequency of these events underscores a severe energy crisis plaguing Cuba, characterized by aging thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and frequent breakdowns that result in daily power cuts lasting up to 12 hours.
The Cuban government has repeatedly blamed U.S. Policy for exacerbating the energy crisis. A U.S. Oil blockade, stemming from actions taken by the Trump administration, is cited as a key factor limiting access to fuel. In January, former President Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, a move intended to pressure the Cuban government to release political prisoners and enact political and economic reforms. President Miguel Díaz-Canel has stated that Cuba has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months, leaving the island producing barely 40% of the fuel it needs.
The deteriorating state of Cuba’s power grid has been a growing concern for years. The recent blackouts severely disrupt daily life, impacting perform schedules, food security, and healthcare services, with hospitals forced to postpone some surgical operations. The situation is further complicated by the earlier removal of Venezuela’s leader, which halted critical petroleum shipments to Havana from a previously reliable ally.
The UNE is coordinating the restoration process with provincial dispatch centers and Cuba Petróleo, but has not provided a clear timeline for full service stabilization. The ongoing crisis highlights the vulnerability of Cuba’s energy infrastructure and the challenges facing the government in securing reliable fuel supplies.