Cuba’s Power Grid Crumbles Again: Sixth Outage This Year Amid Energy Crisis

Cuba faces its sixth nationwide blackout this year as power grid collapses, worsening economic and humanitarian crisis.

September 19, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Havana, Cuba — Cuba’s energy infrastructure suffered another major failure on Friday, plunging millions into darkness for the sixth time this year. The incident comes amid ongoing challenges linked to a U.S.-imposed fuel restriction that has crippled the nation’s ability to maintain its aging power systems.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the islandwide blackout via its official X account, stating that restoration efforts were underway. A breakdown in transmission lines in western Cuba triggered the cascade, cutting power as far east as Matanzas province. Officials also reported unstable weather conditions exacerbating the situation.

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Residents like Mercedes Rodriguez, a 60-year-old Havana worker, described the hardships of daily life without reliable electricity. There’s no food, no water, no electricity—this is unbearable, she said. Meanwhile, only 5% of Havana’s 862,000 customers had power restored by evening, with micro-islands of electricity being set up in several provinces. Hospitals and emergency services were prioritized for reactivation.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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