Cuba Faces Fifth Nationwide Blackout in Less Than a Year

On September 10, 2025, Cuba experienced its fifth nationwide blackout in under a year, affecting approximately 10 million residents. The blackout occurred at 9:14 AM local time, triggered by an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the largest on the island. This incident highlights the ongoing fragility of Cuba's National Electric System (SEN), which has been plagued by frequent outages and systemic failures due to aging infrastructure and insufficient maintenance.

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The recent blackout is part of a troubling trend. Previous nationwide outages occurred on October 18, 2024, November 6, 2024, December 4, 2024, and March 14, 2025, primarily linked to failures at the Guiteras plant and other critical components of the electrical grid. The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has acknowledged that many of the country’s thermal power plants have been operational for over 40 years without significant maintenance, contributing to the current crisis.

Díaz-Canel reappears on X after hours of a complete blackout and assures that "hard work is being done."

The immediate cause of the latest blackout was a false signal of overheated steam that led to the automatic shutdown of the Guiteras plant. This incident compounded an already critical situation where the UNE reported a generation deficit of over 1,700 megawatts, far below the peak demand of 2,950 megawatts. The government has attributed the energy crisis to a combination of factors, including dwindling fuel imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, as well as tightening U.S. sanctions that limit Cuba's ability to procure necessary resources.

Miami Herald

In response to the blackout, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero stated that a "well-defined strategy" was in place to restore power, although he did not provide specific details on how to prevent future outages. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced that restoration efforts were underway, with some essential services, such as hospitals and water pumps, being prioritized for power restoration through backup systems. However, the majority of the population remained without electricity for extended periods.

Cuban Power Grid Collapses Again: Fifth Nationwide Blackout in Less Than a Year

The blackouts have severely impacted daily life in Cuba, leading to food spoilage, disrupted communications, and heightened public frustration. Residents have expressed their despair, with many resorting to cooking with charcoal or firewood. The ongoing energy crisis has also sparked rare anti-government protests, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the regime's inability to provide basic services after decades of centralized control.

Cuba’s electrical grid collapses, plunging 10 million people into blackout

Critics of the Cuban government have pointed to the lack of investment in the energy sector and the failure to modernize the electrical grid as key factors in the crisis. Many citizens have taken to social media to voice their frustrations, with comments highlighting the psychological toll of the frequent outages. The government’s reliance on temporary fixes, such as the establishment of "microsystems" to provide limited power to vital facilities, has been met with skepticism.

Cuba in total blackout: The Government announces the start of emergency microsystems

As Cuba grapples with this latest blackout, the government faces mounting pressure to implement long-term solutions to stabilize the electrical system. The recent installation of solar parks, funded by Chinese investments, has not yet alleviated the situation, and the ongoing reliance on outdated thermal plants remains a critical concern. The future of Cuba's energy infrastructure hangs in the balance as citizens await meaningful reforms to address the chronic instability of their power supply.

Cuban Power Grid Collapses Again: Fifth Nationwide Blackout in Less Than a Year

• “This is crazy for everything,” — Raúl Ernesto Gutiérrez, Havana resident

The Guardian

• “we will have to cook with charcoal, with firewood. It’s stressful and also frustrating.” — Raúl Ernesto Gutiérrez, Havana visitor

The Guardian

• “There has been a total disconnection of the electric system,” — Ministry of Energy and Mines statement

The Guardian

The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure reliable electricity access for its citizens.

U.S. Embassy issues alert for widespread blackout in Cuba