A major power outage on Wednesday plunged two-thirds of Cuba, including the capital Havana, into darkness, the national electric company UNE confirmed.
The blackout, caused by an unexpected failure at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, one of the island’s largest, affected central and western provinces.
Cuba’s electricity system has long been in crisis, with daily blackouts of up to 20 hours in some areas. Chronic fuel shortages have left the island struggling to generate adequate power.
The crisis has worsened since the US ouster of Cuba’s key ally, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, on 3 January.
Maduro’s administration had supplied roughly half of Cuba’s fuel. Following his removal, Washington imposed an oil embargo on Cuba, later eased amid regional warnings that a strict blockade could trigger severe economic and social hardship.
Despite partial easing, shipments of oil from Caracas to Havana remain uncertain, forcing Cuban authorities to ration fuel, suspend diesel sales, limit hospital care and telework, and sharply reduce public transport. Private shuttle prices have surged as a result.
For many residents, the outage added to daily hardship. Damian Salvador, father of a six-month-old, said the blackout was “the final blow.” He rushed to buy candles, warning, “Everything in the fridge is going bad: meat, baby milk, everything.”
The Cuban government attributes the crisis to the US pressure policy. President Donald Trump has described Cuba’s policies, including hosting intelligence facilities of nations like Russia and cracking down on political opponents, as a threat to US national security. Havana rejects the claims, saying Washington seeks to strangle the island’s economy.
The island has been under a US trade embargo since 1962 and continues to face severe economic challenges, including shortages of fuel, medicine and food.
The blackout comes amid broader tensions. International airlines, including Air France, have suspended flights to Havana due to a jet fuel shortage. Additionally, Cuba faces a diplomatic row with Ecuador, which expelled its ambassador, Basilo Gutierrez, giving him 48 hours to leave. Ecuador’s government has not stated a reason for the decision.
Cuba, home to 9.6 million people, lies some 150 kilometres off Florida’s southern coast.
