Cuba's electricity crisis deepens as blackouts affect two‑thirds of the island

A massive power outage on 21 June left about 64 % of Cuba without electricity during peak hours, intensifying an energy crisis that has persisted since mid‑2024. The blackout was driven by a severe generation deficit – only 1,080 MW available against a demand of 2,790 MW – and by structural problems: ten of the sixteen thermal plants are offline, many distributed generators lack fuel, and diesel‑fuel‑oil units are constrained.

In the eastern province of Granma, a voltage drop triggered the automatic shutdown of the 110 kV Rente‑Santiago de Cuba transmission line, cutting power for up to 72 hours in some communities. Residents have demanded a minimum of three hours of electricity, and local officials responded with limited measures such as mobile cinemas. The sustained outages have provoked peaceful protests, “cacerolazos,” and waste‑burning in Havana.

Experts attribute the crisis to decades of under‑investment, aging infrastructure, and fuel shortages – Cuba imports only about 40 000 of the 100 000 barrels of oil needed daily for power generation. The electricity shortfall is expected to compound an economic contraction projected at 6.5 % for 2026.