Cuba was left in darkness on Monday as a nationwide power outage disrupted electricity supply for the island’s 11 million residents, underscoring the severity of its ongoing energy challenges.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported a “complete disconnection” of the national grid, though no immediate technical fault was identified. Authorities indicated that crews were prioritizing critical infrastructure, including hospitals and essential services, as they worked to restore power. By late evening, state media reported that electricity had been restored to only about five per cent of Havana approximately 42,000 customers.
Residents across the country endured sweltering conditions, with many relying on candles, open windows, and other improvised measures to cope with the heat. The blackout intensified longstanding frustrations with Cuba’s ageing power infrastructure, which in recent years has caused outages lasting up to 20 hours in some areas.
The energy situation has been further aggravated since January, following tighter US sanctions on oil imports. These restrictions have reduced the fuel available for electricity generation, leaving Cuba’s national grid increasingly vulnerable to prolonged disruptions.
Analysts warn that unless structural reforms and investments in energy infrastructure are undertaken, such widespread blackouts may become a recurring feature, threatening daily life and economic activity on the island.
