Cuba braces for widespread blackouts, with 68% of country potentially offline

Cuba is bracing for another day of widespread blackouts, as officials predict up to 68% of the island could lose power during the evening peak demand. This marks another chapter in the nation's deepening energy crisis, which has plagued the country since mid-2024.

The crisis stems from a combination of factors, including a long-neglected and obsolete energy infrastructure that has suffered from decades of underinvestment. The situation has been significantly worsened since January by an oil blockade imposed by the United States, crippling the supply of fuel for a substantial portion of the country's power generation.

State-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE) forecasts a generation capacity of 1,099 megawatts against a maximum demand of 3,350 megawatts for Thursday. This deficit will lead to an estimated 2,281 megawatts being disconnected to prevent uncontrolled blackouts. The thermoelectric generation units, which account for 40% of the energy mix and rely on domestic crude, are mostly non-operational due to breakdowns and maintenance. Seven out of 16 units are currently offline.

Furthermore, diesel and fuel oil generators, responsible for another 40% of the energy mix, are completely paralyzed due to the oil blockade. These generators were already struggling before 2026 due to the government's lack of foreign currency for fuel imports. The remaining 20% of the energy mix comes from gas and renewable sources, primarily solar power supported by China. Independent experts estimate that a complete overhaul of the national electrical system would require between $8 billion and $10 billion.