Cuba suffers another total blackout amidst energy crisis
- Cuba faced a total blackout, the second of the year, due to aging infrastructure and fuel shortages.
- Officials began efforts to restore power to essential services, including hospitals and food production facilities.
- The ongoing energy crisis has worsened over the years, heavily impacted by U.S. sanctions.
On September 11, 2025, Cuba experienced a total blackout affecting the entire island due to ongoing issues with its energy infrastructure. The outage marked the second island-wide blackout of the year, continuing a troubling trend with multiple blackouts reported in the past year, largely attributed to aging power plants and fuel shortages. The Ministry of Energy and Mines indicated that the latest blackout may have originated from a malfunction at one of the largest thermoelectric plants in the country. As a nation with around 10 million residents, the effects of such blackouts are significant, causing disruption in daily life and essential services. In response to the crisis, officials immediately initiated the construction of a microsystem aimed at restoring electricity to critical infrastructures. They prioritized power restoration for hospitals, food production facilities, and other essential businesses. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero appeared on state television, urging the population for patience as efforts were underway to gradually restore electricity. Despite this, many residents, such as 65-year-old Mayté García, expressed concern that they might remain without power for days, highlighting the severe impact on food preservation and general well-being during outages. Havana, home to around two million inhabitants, was notably quiet but faced challenges as residents ventured out in search of necessities prior to nightfall. With traffic lights out and cultural activities halted, citizens expressed the urgency of securing basic goods. The city’s gas stations remained operational, yet the overall situation underscored the energy crisis affecting the entire nation. The frequency and severity of blackouts in Cuba have escalated in recent years, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions which hinder the country's ability to generate the necessary income to procure fuel and repair aging thermoelectric plants, many of which have been in operation for over three decades. The chronic energy shortages have led to widespread discontent and frustrations among the Cuban people, contributing to a deteriorating quality of life and economic challenges facing the nation.