Cuba suffers third nationwide blackout of 2026 as grid collapses again

The blackout

Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) suffered a total disconnection on Monday at 12:17 local time (16:17 GMT), plunging the entire island into darkness. The state utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) confirmed the collapse, the third nationwide blackout in 2026 and the eighth since late 2024. About 9.6 million people were affected. The cause remains under investigation.

A total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred. The causes are being investigated. We will continue to inform.

Recovery efforts

Restoration began within hours, focusing on creating microsystems with solar, hydroelectric, and diesel generators to supply critical services like hospitals and water pumps. Lázaro Guerra, director general of electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, said several generating units in the west were started to "strengthen the system," a step he called "key" to energizing the country's thermoelectric plants. By late Monday, UNE reported that 5.6% of customers in Havana (48,252 out of 787,000) had power restored, describing the process as "gradual and progressive." Previous total blackouts have taken more than 24 hours, and sometimes days, to fully resolve.

We have started up several generating units in the west of the island in order to strengthen the system.

Aging infrastructure and fuel shortages

Cuba's electricity generation relies on seven aging thermoelectric plants, some operating for over 40 years. Frequent breakdowns and maintenance shutdowns are common. The Antonio Guiteras plant, the country's largest, has been offline for days after a fault, with more than 15 successive stoppages this year. On Monday, 11 of 16 thermoelectric units were out of service. The crisis has been compounded by US oil sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, which cut off Venezuelan crude shipments and threatened penalties on other suppliers. Only one Russian tanker with 100,000 tonnes of crude has been authorized since January. Backup generators that run on diesel and fuel oil are largely inoperable due to fuel scarcity.

Daily impact

Power cuts have become relentless. In Havana, outages routinely exceed 30 consecutive hours, while some interior provinces go without electricity for up to three days. Before Monday's collapse, UNE had forecast a generation capacity of just 935 megawatts against a peak demand of 3,100 MW, leaving an estimated 71% of the country without power simultaneously. The deficit was projected at 2,165 MW.

Solar expansion

To reduce dependence on imported fuel, Cuba has accelerated a solar energy rollout with Chinese backing. Between 2025 and early 2026, 56 solar parks were installed, contributing over 1,000 MW, or 10% of total generation, up from 3% at the end of 2024. Officials aim to reach 15% from renewables by the close of 2026.