Cuba Grapples with Widespread Power Outage Following Substation Failure

Cuba suffers major power outage after substation failure leaves millions without electricity

Cuba Grapples with Widespread Power Outage Following Substation Failure

Millions across Cuba were left in darkness on Saturday as a significant failure in the national electrical grid caused yet another massive blackout, disrupting daily life across the island.

This large-scale power failure marks the fourth such incident in just six months, as Cuba continues to struggle with a deepening economic crisis. The Ministry of Energy and Mines stated via social media that the latest outage originated from a malfunction at a substation located on the outskirts of Havana, the country’s capital.

By Saturday evening, internet and phone services remained sporadic, with the blackout first occurring around 8 p.m. local time on Friday.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the crisis on his X account, assuring citizens that authorities were “working intensely to restore stability” to the power supply.

Lázaro Guerra, the director of electricity within the energy ministry, appeared on national television to inform the public that energy was being supplied to critical facilities such as hospitals.

A statement released on Saturday by the Cuban Electricity Union detailed the restoration plan, which involves establishing “microsystems” that will progressively reconnect to form a stable power grid. Several of these microsystems were already operational in Guantánamo, Santiago, Las Tunas, and Pinar del Río provinces.

In the province of Sancti Spíritus, the local energy company shared on its Telegram channel that over 200,000 customers had regained power thanks to the microsystem strategy.

Many Cuban households rely on electrical appliances for cooking, meaning prolonged outages pose a significant risk to food preservation. With the tropical climate, perishable goods left in refrigerators could spoil rapidly.

“When I was about to start cooking and making some spaghetti, the power went out. “And now what?” Cecilia Duquense, a 79-year-old housewife who lives in the working-class neighborhood of Central Havana, said Saturday.

Residents in Havana were seen shopping for food on Saturday. Businesses remained open, though some had to rely on battery power or small personal generators to continue operations.

“We are very worried that the food will go bad” in the refrigerator if the blackout lasts much longer, said Frank García, a 26-year-old market worker in Havana.

Gas stations remained operational, but the tunnel beneath Havana Bay, which serves as a key connection between the city and its outskirts, was left in complete darkness.

Cuba has suffered similar nationwide outages in previous months, including October, November, and December. Although this is the first major blackout of 2025, the country had already experienced severe power shortages earlier in mid-February, leading to the suspension of classes and work activities for two days due to a generation shortfall exceeding 50%.

Experts attribute these recurring power failures to a combination of fuel shortages affecting power plants and the aging electrical infrastructure. Many of the island’s power stations have been in operation for over three decades.

The blackouts occur against the backdrop of an intensifying economic crisis in Cuba, which analysts link to multiple factors, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, internal economic policies that have led to inflation, and, most significantly, the continued tightening of U.S. sanctions.