Complete Islandwide Blackout Hits Cuba

Cuba experienced a nationwide power outage Monday, leaving much of the island’s population of about 11 million without electricity as the country’s ongoing energy and economic struggles worsened. Authorities said the entire electrical system suddenly shut down, though initial checks found no malfunction in the generating units that had been running at the time. Officials are now working to determine the cause.

Energy officials explained that efforts are underway to carefully restart key thermoelectric plants, which are essential for bringing the grid back online. They emphasized that power must be restored step by step, since a fragile system is more likely to fail again if pushed too quickly.

This marks the third large-scale blackout in Cuba within four months. By late Monday, electricity had been partially restored in the capital, Havana, reaching a small portion of residents—about 42,000 customers—as well as several hospitals across the country. Authorities said the next priority would be restoring power to communications networks, while cautioning that the limited service already returned could still be unstable.

Cuba’s power infrastructure has deteriorated significantly in recent years, resulting in frequent outages and repeated nationwide failures. Government officials have also pointed to external pressure, including U.S. restrictions on energy supplies, as a factor contributing to the crisis. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, adding to the strain.

The Trump administration has tied any easing of sanctions to demands that Cuba release political prisoners and pursue political and economic reforms. President Trump has also suggested a more assertive approach toward the island, recently stating that he believes the United States could take a leading role in shaping Cuba’s future. According to sources familiar with discussions between Washington and Havana, U.S. officials are seeking a change in leadership, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stepping down as part of broader negotiations.

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