- A power outage caused by a power grid failure in Havana on Friday, March 14, left millions without electricity in Cuba.
- Authorities are restoring power using microsystems, but the crisis highlights Cuba’s ageing infrastructure and fuel shortages.
Millions of people in Cuba remained without electricity on Saturday after a power grid failure left the island in darkness on Friday night. This is the fourth major blackout in six months as Cuba struggles with a severe economic crisis.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that a substation failure in Havana caused the outage. The blackout also disrupted internet and telephone services, which remained unstable on Saturday evening.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel assured citizens that authorities were “working intensely to restore stability” to the power system. Lázaro Guerra, the ministry’s director of electricity, said that power was being generated for essential services, including hospitals.
The Cuban Electricity Union announced plans to restore power using “microsystems.” These small networks will reconnect gradually to bring electricity back across the country. Some microsystems were already working in Guantánamo, Santiago, Las Tunas, and Pinar del Río. In Sancti Spíritus, over 200,000 customers had electricity through these systems.
The outage affected daily life, as many Cubans rely on electricity to cook. Due to the tropical climate, food stored in refrigerators could spoil. Cecilia Duquense, a 79-year-old housewife in Central Havana, shared her frustration: “I was about to cook spaghetti when the power went out. And now what?”
Despite the blackout, people in Havana continued shopping for food on Saturday. Some businesses stayed open using batteries or small generators. Frank García, a 26-year-old market worker, expressed concern: “We are worried that food in the fridge will spoil if the blackout lasts much longer.”
Gas stations remained open, but the tunnel under Havana Bay, which connects the city to the outskirts, was completely dark.
Cuba has faced similar blackouts in October, November, and December. The latest outage is the first of 2025. In mid-February, authorities suspended classes and work for two days due to an electricity shortage that affected more than 50% of the country.
Experts link the power crisis to fuel shortages and ageing infrastructure. Many power plants in Cuba have operated for over 30 years. The economic crisis has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic policies that triggered inflation, and stricter U.S. sanctions.
The government continues efforts to restore power, but many Cubans remain uncertain about when the situation will improve.