Cuba Plunged into Darkness: Severe Power Shortages Cripple Nation Amidst Deepening Economic Crisis

Cuba is currently enduring its most severe economic crisis in decades, a situation exacerbated by a profound energy deficit that has left the nation grappling with extensive and prolonged power outages. Official statistics indicate that electricity generation is meeting only about half of the country's needs, resulting in daily blackouts that can last for up to 20 hours in many areas, particularly outside the capital, Havana.

Crisis Deepens with Frequent Blackouts

The island nation has been plagued by a series of significant power failures over the past two years. In March 2024, large-scale outages, some lasting up to 18 hours a day, were reported, largely due to frequent breakdowns at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, a critical electricity provider. The situation escalated in October 2024, when a failure at the Antonio Guiteras plant led to a nationwide blackout that left 10 million people without electricity for several days. This incident was widely regarded as one of the worst electrical crises in years. Further nationwide blackouts occurred in December 2024 following another failure at the same plant. The trend continued into March 2025, with millions losing power after a substation failure in Havana, marking the fourth major blackout in six months. By September 2025, the national grid collapsed once more due to a mechanical breakdown, causing a 24-hour blackout. As of January 15, 2026, the electrical deficit exceeded 1900 megawatts (MW), with available generation at 1300 MW against a demand of 2150 MW, reflecting a persistent shortfall of approximately 49.8 percent in the first weeks of the year.

Root Causes: Aging Infrastructure, Fuel Scarcity, and Sanctions

The underlying causes of Cuba's energy crisis are multifaceted:

• Aging Infrastructure: The country's power grid relies heavily on oil-fired thermal plants, many of which were constructed decades ago and are in a state of severe deterioration due to inadequate maintenance. The Antonio Guiteras plant, for instance, was set up in 1988 and has been a frequent point of failure.
• Fuel Shortages: Cuba is highly dependent on imported fuel, but deliveries from traditional allies like Venezuela and Russia have become inconsistent and significantly reduced. In 2024, Venezuela reportedly slashed fuel shipments to Cuba by half. Limited foreign currency reserves further hinder the country's ability to purchase fuel from other international markets.
• Economic Crisis: The broader economic downturn, considered the worst since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, has crippled Cuba's financial capacity to invest in necessary maintenance, upgrades, and new power generation projects. This crisis has been exacerbated by tighter U.S. sanctions, poor domestic economic management, and the collapse of tourism following the COVID-19 pandemic.
• U.S. Embargo: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has consistently attributed the difficulties in importing fuel and spare parts to the longstanding U.S. trade embargo and more recent sanctions, which complicate financing and deter oil tankers.

Impact on Daily Life and Government Response

The severe power outages have had a devastating impact on the daily lives of Cubans. Essential services are disrupted, leading to water shortages as pumps require electricity, and unreliable refrigeration causes food and medicine to spoil. Internet and communication services are also frequently interrupted. The economic toll is significant, with businesses losing productive hours and the vital tourism sector struggling to maintain operations. The widespread frustration has occasionally led to protests across the island, and the crisis has contributed to a mass exodus of Cubans.

In response, the Cuban government has implemented energy-saving measures and suspended non-essential state activities. While President Díaz-Canel has blamed U.S. sanctions and warned against protests, the government has also announced plans to invest in renewable energy sources, particularly solar power, and to boost domestic crude oil production. Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, stated that while 2026 might see a 'slightly improved situation' due to the incorporation of new thermoelectric units and 1,000 MW of renewable energy, fuel shortages are expected to persist. The long-term goal is to generate 37 percent of the country's electricity from renewable sources by 2030, though experts remain skeptical about the feasibility of this target given the ongoing economic challenges.