HAVANA (AP) - Once again, Cuba's power grid collapsed on Friday, resulting in widespread power outages for millions across the island. This event marks the sixth occurrence of such blackouts since January, following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to cut off fuel supplies to Cuba.
The Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the nationwide outage via its official X account, indicating that officials were in the process of activating service-restoration protocols. Residents expressed their frustration with the continued power disruptions, which have significantly impacted daily life. “No one can stand these constant blackouts. There isn’t enough food, there’s no water, there’s no electricity — you have no idea,” lamented Mercedes Rodriguez, a 60-year-old worker from Havana, as she awaited public transportation to return home. “The country is in such a sad state, and there are no words for what we’re going through.”
The blackout reportedly stemmed from a failure in the transmission lines in western Cuba, impacting areas as far as Matanzas province. Subsequently, the eastern section of the island was also disconnected. The official newspaper, Granma, reported that "unstable" weather conditions had exacerbated the grid's issues.
By nightfall, only 5% of Havana's approximately 862,000 customers had their power restored. Authorities began implementing small power-distribution "micro-islands" in the provinces of Camagüey, Pinar del Río, and Granma. Systems serving hospitals and emergency facilities were prioritized for restoration.
These power grid collapses have become increasingly frequent over the past two years, largely due to the severe economic crisis plaguing the island. The situation worsened significantly since January when the U.S. imposed a strict energy blockade aimed at instigating changes in Cuba’s political landscape. The embargo restricts Cuba's ability to import the necessary fuel for thermoelectric power plants, as well as maintenance parts for aging infrastructure. Since the blockade's imposition, only a single tanker of fuel has arrived from Russia in March.
The two most recent nationwide blackouts occurred in early August, following similar events in July and March, alongside several regional outages. Even when the national grid is operational, Cubans frequently endure outages that last over 30 consecutive hours, leading to a myriad of challenges for everyday life.
The impact of the blackouts has been profound, contributing to transportation limitations, reduced work hours, and flight cancellations, as well as causing significant public health consequences. Daily activities such as cooking, accessing water, and using internet and telephone services are severely disrupted.
In central Havana, resident Abilén Marrero expressed her resignation amidst the ongoing outages. “Maybe it’ll come back this afternoon or tomorrow — there’s no way to know. We just have to wait,” she said, reflecting the sentiments shared by many during these trying times.
