economy
March 18, 2026
Cuba remains almost entirely without electricity after its sixth blackout in a year and a half
Havana, one of the cities where service is recovering fastest, has only 31% of its customers with supply, according to the latest information from the state-owned Unión Eléctrica (UNE).
TL;DR
- Almost all of Cuba is without electricity, 20 hours after the sixth national blackout in 18 months.
- Only three of the country's 16 thermoelectric generation units are producing electricity.
- The energy crisis, ongoing since mid-2024, has been worsened by a U.S. oil embargo since January.
- The situation has paralyzed the economy and increased social discontent, leading to recent protests.
- Independent experts estimate that repairing the national electric system would cost between $8 billion and $10 billion.