Cuba begins gradual restoration after latest nationwide blackout
Union Eléctrica says nearly half of Havana customers have regained power after a transmission failure spread outages across the island.
Cuba has begun restoring electricity after a nationwide blackout that started in five provinces and spread across the island, according to state-run utility Union Eléctrica.
The utility said restoration was proceeding gradually, with nearly half of Havana’s customers regaining power. It did not provide a total number of affected customers or a timetable for completing the recovery.
Cuban authorities attributed the grid collapse to a failure in high-voltage transmission lines in the central part of the country. Union Eléctrica also said unstable weather conditions played a role.
Residents reported prolonged outages and shortages of water and cooking gas. Some also said fuel shortages were making it difficult to run backup generators dependent on imported diesel.
The blackout was described as at least Cuba’s sixth this year and at least its 12th since late 2024. The country’s ageing electricity infrastructure and fuel shortages have contributed to recurring power failures.
The report said outages had become more frequent after the United States imposed what it describes as an energy blockade in January. UN human rights experts have criticised the US oil blockade and warned that shortages and blackouts could worsen.
