energy
March 23, 2026
Cuba suffers a new national blackout, the second in a week
Cuba is mired in a deep energy crisis since mid-2024, a situation that has worsened in the last three months with the oil blockade imposed by the US, which has led electricity outages to record highs.
TL;DR
- Cuba suffered a total national blackout on Saturday at 6:38 PM local time.
- This is the second national blackout in less than a week and the seventh in the last year and a half.
- The energy crisis in Cuba has deepened since mid-2024, exacerbated by U.S. oil sanctions.
- Restoring the National Electric System is a slow process, potentially taking days, especially due to a lack of diesel and fuel oil.
- Ten of sixteen thermoelectric generation units were non-operational due to breakdowns or maintenance, unrelated to the U.S. blockade.
- The crisis is attributed to a combination of chronic underfunding and U.S. sanctions, with independent estimates suggesting billions are needed to overhaul the system.
- The blackouts are negatively impacting the economy and have triggered significant protests in recent years.