Micah Jonah
March 22, 2026
Cuba’s national power grid has collapsed for the second time in a week, plunging large parts of the country into darkness as authorities struggle with fuel shortages and aging infrastructure.
State utility Unión Eléctrica confirmed that a “total disconnection” of the National Electric Power System occurred on Saturday evening, marking the third major outage this month. Earlier failures included a widespread blackout on March 4 caused by a breakdown at a thermoelectric plant, as well as another nationwide outage earlier in the week.
The repeated collapses highlight the deepening energy crisis in Cuba, where outdated infrastructure and limited fuel supplies have made the grid increasingly fragile. Two complete shutdowns within a single week are considered highly unusual, even for a system that has faced recurring disruptions in recent years.
The crisis has been worsened by an oil blockade imposed by US President, Donald Trump, which cut off key fuel supplies from Venezuela following the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro earlier this year. Venezuela had long been Cuba’s primary oil supplier, providing fuel under preferential terms.
Since the blockade, Cuba has struggled to secure alternative supplies. Mexico, another major supplier, has halted shipments, though it continues to provide humanitarian assistance. Rising global oil prices linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict have further compounded the situation.
While Havana has blamed longstanding US sanctions for its economic and energy difficulties, Washington maintains that Cuba’s centrally planned economic system is responsible for the country’s failing infrastructure.
