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Cuba suffers eighth nationwide power outage of 2026 FAST-MOVING
Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) suffered a total collapse on Friday, September 18, 2026, marking the eighth nationwide blackout of the year. The outage left approximately nine million people without electricity across the island.
The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem) reported that the failure originated from transmission line issues in the western region. Specifically, the collapse followed the tripping of the 220 kV Matanzas-Cienfuegos line and the Matanzas-Santa Clara line, exacerbated by unstable weather conditions. The initial failure split the grid into Eastern and Western zones before a complete system-wide disconnection occurred.
Authorities have activated recovery protocols, which involve using easier-to-start generation sources like solar, hydroelectric, and small engines to create micro-islands of power before gradually reconnecting the main thermoelectric plants.
The crisis is driven by aging infrastructure, a lack of spare parts, and severe fuel shortages. Officials and analysts note that the situation has been worsened by U.S. oil embargoes and sanctions, as well as a significant reduction in crude oil shipments from Venezuela since December.
Entities
Cuba · Electric Union (UNE) · Ministerio de Energía y Minas · Ministry of Energy and Mines · United States · United States · Unión Eléctrica · Unión Eléctrica de Cuba · Venezuela · Yasser Sosa Tamayo
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 16 SOURCES] This is the eighth total national power outage in Cuba in 2026. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.14ymedio.com · www.cash.ch · laopinion.com · +11 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] A total disconnection of the national electric power system has occurred. www.14ymedio.com · laopinion.com · www.monumental.co.cr · www.telesurenglish.net · valor.globo.com · +14 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Available power during peak demand was estimated at approximately 1,110 to 1,155 megawatts against a demand of 3,200 to 3,250 megawatts. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.cash.ch · laopinion.com · www.wz.de · +2 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] The blackout occurred following the activation of transmission line trips in Matanzas-Cienfuegos and Matanzas-Santa Clara. www.14ymedio.com · infoenn.com · contrapunto.com · pasoapaso.com.do · www.cmhw.cu · +1 more
- [● 19 SOURCES] The Electric Union (UNE) has activated recovery protocols to restore the power supply. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.14ymedio.com · www.nn.de · www.monumental.co.cr · www.telesurenglish.net · +14 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The blackout has affected approximately 9 million people. laopinion.com · infoenn.com · contrapunto.com · pasoapaso.com.do · www.14ymedio.com · +7 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Cuba has received almost no crude oil from Venezuela since December. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · www.cash.ch · www.wz.de · www.bbv-net.de · +1 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] U.S. oil embargoes and sanctions have limited Cuba's access to fuel and spare parts. www.allgaeuer-zeitung.de · www.nn.de · laopinion.com · www.telesurenglish.net · www.metropoles.com · +7 more