Cuba Restores Nationwide Power Grid After 36‑Hour Blackout

Cuba’s state electricity operator announced that the national grid was reconnected on Tuesday, ending a 36‑hour blackout that left most of the island without power. The outage, the sixth island‑wide failure this year, sparked spontaneous protests in Old Havana, where residents gathered on balconies and clapped kitchenware in an hour‑long demonstration. Cuban officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, blamed the United States’ energy blockade for the recurring failures, citing restrictions on fuel, parts and financing.

Amid the chronic shortages, Cubans have turned to innovative “solar charging stations” – called Solineras – that provide up to two hours of free solar power for phones, lamps and small devices. The Havana‑based Empresa de la Industria Electrónica (EIE) operates the largest network, with 25 stations in service and more under construction, and runs 22 solar farms that feed roughly 3,000 kWh into the grid each day. These initiatives are part of the government’s 176‑point reform plan, which offers tax incentives for renewable‑energy projects.