Cuba faces widespread blackouts as 68% of nation to lose power

Cuba is grappling with extensive power outages, with projections indicating that up to 68% of the country could simultaneously lose electricity during peak demand hours. This situation is part of a deepening energy crisis that has plagued the Caribbean nation since mid-2024.

The crisis has been significantly worsened since January by U.S. oil sanctions, which the Cuban government has vehemently condemned as "genocidal," accusing Washington of "strangling" the island. The government describes the current situation as "critical," with outages in Havana exceeding 26 consecutive hours daily for over two weeks. In other parts of the country, residents have endured up to two days without power at a time for nearly two years.

The state-run Unión Eléctrica (UNE) anticipates a generation capacity of 1,015 megawatts (MW) against a maximum demand of 3,050 MW during peak hours. This leaves a deficit of 2,035 MW, leading to an estimated disconnection of 2,075 MW to prevent uncontrolled blackouts.

Compounding the problem is the obsolescence of Cuba's thermoelectric plants, many of which have been in operation for decades without adequate investment. Nine out of sixteen thermoelectric generation units are currently offline due to breakdowns or maintenance. Furthermore, U.S. pressure has halted diesel and fuel oil imports, impacting generator engines that supply another 40% of the energy mix. Cuba requires approximately 100,000 barrels of oil daily, with only 40,000 produced domestically.