By Anietie anii-bassey
Cuba was plunged into another nationwide blackout on Friday, marking the second islandwide power collapse in less than a week and further exposing the deepening energy crisis facing the Caribbean nation of nearly 10 million people.
The latest outage disrupted daily life across the country, leaving millions without electricity as authorities struggled to stabilize an aging power system already weakened by chronic fuel shortages and deteriorating infrastructure.
Cuba’s state-run Electric Union confirmed the blackout through social media, saying the collapse was triggered by a “fluctuation in the parameters” after a failure occurred on a transmission line linking the central provinces of Santa Clara and Sancti Spíritus. The disruption quickly spread through the national grid, causing a complete shutdown of the electrical system.
The blackout comes only days after another nationwide outage struck the country on Monday, from which authorities were still attempting to fully restore service.
While localized power interruptions have become a common occurrence in Cuba in recent years, two nationwide collapses within the same week are considered highly unusual and underscore the severity of the country’s energy challenges.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero described the situation as one of the most difficult periods the country has experienced in recent months. In a statement posted on social media, he pointed to the combined effects of fuel shortages, power plant failures and external economic pressures that have placed enormous strain on the national energy system.
“It has been another very difficult week under the impact of the energy blockade,” Marrero said, noting that the country had endured two complete disconnections of the National Electric System, severe shortages of fuel supplies and multiple generating units being taken out of service.
Authorities said restoration efforts began immediately after the latest collapse, with electricity gradually returning to certain areas. However, officials warned that full recovery could take time due to the fragile condition of the grid and the limited availability of fuel needed to restart generating stations.
Cuba’s electricity system has been under mounting pressure for years. Much of the country’s energy infrastructure is decades old, with several major power plants operating for more than 30 years and suffering from insufficient maintenance and outdated equipment. Frequent breakdowns and technical failures have become increasingly common.
The island’s energy problems have been compounded by severe fuel shortages. Cuba produces only around 40 percent of the fuel it requires domestically and relies heavily on imports to meet national demand. However, obtaining adequate supplies has become increasingly difficult amid financial constraints and international sanctions.
The latest blackout marks the fourth major collapse of Cuba’s electricity system this year alone. In mid-March, the entire country experienced a nationwide outage, while another major blackout in May affected much of eastern Cuba.
The recurring power failures have significantly impacted everyday life across the island. Intentional power rationing has become routine, with many communities enduring scheduled blackouts lasting more than 24 consecutive hours. Businesses, schools and public institutions have all faced repeated disruptions.
Fuel shortages have also severely affected transportation and healthcare services. Public transportation networks have been reduced or suspended in many areas due to insufficient diesel supplies, while health officials have been forced to postpone tens of thousands of surgeries and other medical procedures.
Cuba’s economic difficulties have intensified since the beginning of the year following concerns over potential measures targeting countries supplying oil to the island. The situation has complicated Havana’s efforts to secure stable energy imports and maintain adequate fuel reserves.
A shipment of approximately 730,000 barrels of oil delivered by a Russian tanker in late March provided temporary relief but was reportedly exhausted by the end of April, leaving authorities once again scrambling to secure additional supplies.
The repeated collapse of the national power grid has heightened public frustration as Cubans continue to face prolonged shortages of electricity, food, fuel and essential services amid one of the country’s most severe economic crises in decades.
As engineers work to restore power and stabilize the electrical system, many residents fear that further nationwide blackouts could occur in the coming months unless significant improvements are made to the country’s aging infrastructure and fuel supply situation.
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