Cuba’s national electrical grid experienced a complete shutdown on Friday due to a failure at one of its major power plants, resulting in a nationwide blackout, according to the country’s energy ministry.
In a last-ditch effort to preserve electricity, the government had already closed schools and non-essential businesses and sent most state employees home earlier that day.
However, shortly before noon, the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the largest and most efficient in the country, went offline, leaving around 10 million people without power.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated on X that efforts to restore power would not cease until it was achieved.
The crisis prompted officials to cancel all non-essential government services, and all schools, including universities, were closed through Sunday. Recreational activities, such as nightclubs, were also ordered to shut down, with only essential workers in the food and healthcare sectors expected to report to work on Friday.
Grid officials indicated they were unsure how long it would take to restore service.
This situation marks a significant decline in living conditions on the island, which is already facing severe shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine.
By midday on Friday, commerce in Havana had virtually ceased, and many residents were left sweating in their homes as they tried to stay cool.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attributed the ongoing rolling blackouts to a combination of deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and rising demand. He identified the fuel shortage as the most significant issue, although a televised message he delivered was marred by technical difficulties. The severe weather from Hurricane Milton has also hampered the delivery of essential fuel to the power plants.
The Cuban government has consistently pointed to the U.S. embargo from the Cold War era and recent sanctions from the Trump administration as factors contributing to difficulties in acquiring fuel and spare parts. The two largest power plants, Felton and the now-inoperative Antonio Guiteras, are both underperforming and in need of urgent maintenance as part of a four-year plan to overhaul Cuba’s aging infrastructure.
To address the increased demand from rapidly growing private businesses, the government announced it would charge these businesses higher rates for their energy consumption.
Despite a rising demand for electricity, fuel supplies have dwindled, with Cuba producing very little of its own. Venezuela, Cuba’s primary oil supplier, has cut shipments to about 32,600 barrels per day in the first nine months of this year, significantly down from the 60,000 barrels per day supplied in the same period last year.
Additionally, Russia and Mexico, previously reliable sources of fuel for Cuba, have also decreased their shipments. This has forced Cuba to rely on the much more expensive spot market at a time when the government is facing financial challenges.
However, electricity officials remain optimistic that power generation will improve in the coming days as the weather permits fuel from earlier deliveries to be distributed throughout the island.
