Cuba faces record nationwide blackouts as power grid collapses

Cuba’s national electric grid suffered a total collapse, leaving up to 72 % of the island without power during peak demand – a new record following a 71 % outage the previous day. The state utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported a generation deficit of roughly 2,200‑2,300 MW against a projected demand of 3,100 MW, with available capacity around 1,000 MW. The shortfall is driven by aging thermoelectric plants, most notably the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras facility, and outages at multiple units in Mariel, Nuevitas, Felton and other sites. Fuel shortages, exacerbated by the U.S. oil embargo, have limited diesel supplies for generators, while solar parks contribute only a fraction of the needed power. The crisis has sparked widespread protests and cacerolazos, with authorities blaming U.S. sanctions for the “genocidal” impact on the population. The government has prioritized electricity for hospitals and water‑pumping stations but has not provided a timeline for full restoration.