Cuba power grid to lose 64% of supply amid deepening energy crisis

State‑run Cuban Union of Electric Companies announced that on Sunday, July 19, 2026, it will disconnect the national grid for up to 64% of the island during the afternoon and night, the period of highest demand. The blackout comes as the island has been in a severe energy crisis since mid‑2024, aggravated by the U.S. oil embargo and aging thermal‑power infrastructure.

In the past week the country suffered its third total grid failure and the fifth this year. Outages have reached 72% of Cuba’s territory at peak hours, with Havana experiencing more than 24 hours of black‑out and some provinces facing two consecutive days without electricity. Eight of the 16 thermal power plants are offline because of faults or maintenance; these plants provide about 40% of power using domestic low‑grade fuel, while another 40% depends on imported diesel and mazut, and the remaining 20% comes from natural gas and renewable sources, including new solar projects backed by China. The government has described the situation as critical.