Cuba experiences nationwide blackout after power grid collapse

Cuba’s national electricity grid suffered a total collapse on Sunday, following a weekend of intermittent outages that left large portions of the island without power. The failure, attributed to the aging infrastructure of the state‑run system, coincided with severe fuel shortages that have been exacerbated by restrictions imposed by the United States, which limit the import of refined petroleum products to the country.

Government officials confirmed that the blackout affected residential, commercial and industrial consumers nationwide, prompting emergency measures such as the deployment of diesel generators and the prioritisation of essential services. Authorities warned that restoration could take several days, citing a lack of spare parts and limited fuel supplies needed to operate backup plants. The incident underscores the broader challenges facing Cuba’s energy sector, which has struggled with underinvestment and external sanctions for years, and highlights the immediate need for infrastructure upgrades and reliable fuel imports to prevent future grid failures.