Cuba Suffers Second Nationwide Blackout in Five Days

Cuba suffered a widespread electricity blackout on Friday, marking the second such event in just five days and the ninth since late 2024. The national grid experienced a total disconnection at 4:30 p.m. local time, according to the state-run Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE).

This latest outage follows a similar incident on Monday, which was attributed to a voltage fluctuation combined with low electricity generation. Service was only fully restored on Wednesday. Authorities have pointed to a low availability of fuel as a key factor hindering the stabilization of the power supply.

The island's electricity generation relies heavily on seven thermal power plants, many of which are over 40 years old. These aging facilities are prone to frequent breakdowns and require mandatory maintenance periods. The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, considered the country's main power source, has been out of service for repairs after experiencing over fifteen technical stoppages this year alone.

As a result of the deteriorating condition of the power plants and limitations in importing diesel for backup generators, daily service interruptions have become commonplace. In Havana, power cuts can last over 24 hours, while in the interior provinces, outages have exceeded 70 hours continuously.

To address the ongoing energy crisis and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, the Cuban government is implementing a transition plan towards renewable energy sources, with financial and technical support from China. Since 2025, 56 photovoltaic solar parks have been brought online, contributing over 1,000 MW to the grid. This has increased solar power's share in the energy mix from 3% at the end of 2024 to 10% of the current total capacity, with an official projection to reach 15% by the close of 2026.