Cuba Was Plunged Into Darkness Once Again On Saturday Evening

by HEDNEWS on March 24, 2026

Cuba was plunged into darkness once again on Saturday evening after the country’s national power grid collapsed, leaving more than 10 million people without electricity, according to officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines. The outage affected the entire island, marking the third nationwide blackout in March alone, and highlighting the deepening energy crisis gripping the Caribbean nation. Authorities said the blackout was triggered by a failure at a major thermoelectric plant in Nuevitas, in Camagüey province, which caused a cascading shutdown across the national grid

The blackout left homes, businesses, hospitals, and essential services without power across the island of roughly 10 million people.

Residents were forced to rely on flashlights and alternative cooking methods
Communications, including internet and mobile networks, were disrupted
Food spoilage and economic losses worsened existing hardships

Partial restoration began within a day, with about half of Havana regaining electricity, though large parts of the country remained in the dark.

Cuba’s recurring blackouts stem from a combination of long-term structural and immediate pressures:

Aging power infrastructure prone to breakdowns
Severe fuel shortages, limiting electricity generation
Reduced oil imports, especially after disruptions to Venezuelan supply
Tightened U.S. sanctions and oil restrictions, worsening the energy deficit

The country currently produces only a fraction of the fuel it needs, making the grid highly vulnerable to shocks.

Nationwide blackout March 4
Another grid collapse March 16
Latest island-wide outage March 21

Frequent power cuts have become routine, with some areas experiencing outages lasting up to 12 hours daily.

Cuban authorities say efforts are underway to stabilize the grid by:

Restarting major power plants
Creating localized “micro-grids” for essential services
Seeking emergency fuel supplies from abroad

However, officials warn that full recovery could take time, given ongoing fuel constraints and technical challenges.

The blackouts underscore a broader economic and humanitarian strain in Cuba, where energy shortages are compounding issues like food scarcity, reduced industrial activity, and public frustration. With no immediate resolution in sight, experts say the country’s energy crisis could continue to trigger further nationwide outages in the weeks ahead.