Cuba’s national electrical grid collapsed on Friday night, triggering a nationwide blackout that plunged the island’s population of more than 10 million people into total darkness, according to statements from Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines. The failure originated at approximately 8:15 p.m. local time at the Diezmero substation, causing a significant loss of power generation across the west of Cuba and the eventual failure of the National Electric System, government officials said.
The incident marks at least the sixth time this year that the island’s electrical infrastructure has suffered a complete nationwide collapse, according to tracking by CBS News. Residents in the capital city of Havana navigated pitch-black streets using electric torches, while families scrambled to find propane, charcoal, and fuel for portable generators to preserve food spoiling in the tropical heat.
Grid Failure and Restoration Efforts
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the initial failure occurred in transmission lines in the western part of the country, causing the system to collapse in that area—as far as Matanzas province—and the eastern section of the island was subsequently disconnected. Unstable weather conditions further aggravated the fragile state of the transmission network, state newspaper Granma reported. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez stated on X that the government is working intensively to restore power stability in constant communication with the country’s energy minister.
By Saturday morning, authorities began establishing small power-distribution “micro-islands”—pockets of electricity—to bring essential services online in cities including Camagüey, Pinar del Río, and Granma. Officials have not provided a definitive timeline for when the entire national grid will return to full operational capacity.
Economic Crisis and Fuel Shortages
The frequent collapses stem from a severe economic crisis and a lack of infrastructure investment by the communist government, alongside United States economic sanctions, according to reporting. The energy shortages have worsened since January, following U.S. executive actions that restrict countries from selling or providing oil to Cuba. These restrictions have crippled the island’s ability to import fuel for thermoelectric power plants and replacement parts for obsolete machinery, leaving just one recorded tanker delivery—from Russia in March—since the policy took effect, CBS News reported.
Citizens across the island face compounding daily hardships resulting from the grid failures. Mercedes Rodriguez, a 60-year-old worker in Havana, told The Associated Press that basic survival has grown increasingly difficult. “No one can stand these constant blackouts. There isn’t enough food, there’s no water, there’s no electricity—you have no idea,” Rodriguez said. Ernesto Soberón Guzman, the Cuban ambassador to the United Nations, characterized the ongoing blackouts as a form of “collective punishment” resulting from the energy embargo, in an interview with CBS News.
Broader Impact on Daily Life
Internet and telephone services frequently fail alongside the power grid, isolating residents during emergencies. While recurrent outages lasting more than 30 consecutive hours are routine for Cubans, successive nationwide blackouts—including incidents in March, July, and August—have left the population facing continuous uncertainty regarding basic public services.
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