Western Cuba hit by widespread blackout
Large outage highlights ageing grid and repeated system failures.
Image for illustrative purposes
Cuba: A major power outage has left western Cuba without electricity for several hours, affecting an area that includes the capital, Havana. The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that the blackout began at around 5am local time and confirmed full restoration of services shortly after 1:25pm.
The outage stretched from Pinar del Rio in the west to Mayabeque, east of Havana, leaving millions without power as repair crews worked through the morning. Officials issued regular updates, stressing that restoration efforts continued without pause.
Cuba has experienced frequent electricity disruptions, a problem linked to its ageing power grid, the impact of severe weather, and wider economic difficulties. In 2024 alone, at least five large-scale failures led to rare public demonstrations, including protests in Santiago de Cuba. The pattern persisted into 2025, with a September outage traced to a fault at a thermoelectric plant.
Much of Cuba’s power system relies on old infrastructure, heavy fossil-fuel use and equipment dating back to the 1980s. While the country has attempted to increase renewable energy production, progress has been slowed by repeated hurricanes. Storms such as Imelda and Melissa brought extensive flooding, damage and displacement, further straining the grid.
Cuban officials also argue that long-standing US embargo measures have limited access to materials needed for modernisation. President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the blackout as another challenge created by economic restrictions, recent storms and ongoing maintenance needs.
Regular outages have contributed to wider social pressures, including protests and a notable wave of emigration in recent years. Despite these challenges, the government has maintained that work is under way to restore stability to the National Electric System.
Source: Al Jazeera
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