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[SITUATION] · [ACTIVE]

28 clusters · 301 sources · 75 days · First seen 3 months ago · Last updated about 11 hours ago

Categories: HEALTH · POLITICS · TECHNOLOGY · CRIME · BUSINESS · INTERNATIONAL · CULTURE

Cuba power crisis deepens, grid blackout

Entities: Cuba · Unión Eléctrica de Cuba · Yunier Broche-Pérez · Miguel Díaz‑Canel · Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant

Overview

By mid‑July 2026 Cuba’s electricity deficit had risen to about 64 % of peak demand, with a record shortfall of roughly 2,300 MW on 10 July leaving only about one‑third of the required capacity operational. The outages affected up to 9.6 million people, with daily blackouts of 15‑24 hours in Havana and up to 80‑48 hours elsewhere. Because 87 % of water pumps rely on power, an estimated 2.7 million residents faced unreliable drinking water; in San Miguel del Padrón residents reported ten‑day water cuts, dug makeshift wells and contested scarce water from a single truck. Protests continued, and on 20 July the Central Bank overhauled payment limits and introduced new banknotes to encourage digital transactions. On 21 July residents reported illegal sales of electricity and water, alleging that only customers who could pay – sometimes with cash or even alcohol – received service. The state utility Unión Eléctrica opened an investigation after lineworkers were caught selling power to private businesses. A Florida‑based firm warned Cubans of online scams purporting to sell fuel for relatives, urging use of official channels only. Further infrastructure damage was recorded on 24 July when a truck destroyed six circuits at a 33‑kV substation in Aguada de Pasajeros, Cienfuegos, cutting power to over 9,000 customers. Severe storms in Sancti Spíritus toppled trees and broke poles, disabling multiple circuits, including those serving the provincial hospital, leaving dozens of neighborhoods without electricity and generating hundreds of complaints. On 26 July the state utility announced that Unit 1 of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was taken offline after an economizer failure, dropping available generation to about 1,150 MW against a peak demand of roughly 3,200 MW and leaving more than 65 % of the island without electricity during the highest‑demand period.

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] Cuba experiences daily power outages of more than 20 hours in Havana and over 48 hours in other regions. (energy shortages and aging grid)
[● 2 SOURCES] A 2025 study of 415 Cuban adults found 55.4% severe depression, 66% severe anxiety and 65.8% severe stress. (psychological assessment)
[● 2 SOURCES] Cuba's electricity generation relies on seven aging Soviet‑era thermal power plants built over four decades. (infrastructure)
[● 2 SOURCES] U.S. sanctions, including Executive Order 14380 signed by President Donald Trump, targeted oil supplies to Cuba and state oil firm CUPET. (sanctions policy)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Unit 1 of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was taken out of service due to an economizer failure. (union électrique cubano)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The outage reduced available generation to 1,150 MW against a peak demand of about 3,200 MW, leaving over 65 % of the island without electricity during peak hours. (union eléctrica cubano)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Additional units (Unit 6 of Máximo Gómez, Unit 6 of Diez de Octubre, Unit 2 of Felton, Unit 3 of Antonio Maceo, plus several units under maintenance) are also out of service. (union eléctrica cubano)
[○ 1 SOURCE] UNE forecast a power deficit of up to 2,180 MW for the night of July 28, with only 1,070 MW available against a demand of 3,220 MW. (union eléctrica cubano)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Solar parks generated a maximum of 604 MW at midday, insufficient to offset the national deficit. (union eléctrica cubano)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Cuban social‑media users responded with sarcasm and memes mocking the frequent shutdowns of the Guiteras plant. (public comments)
[○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. sanctions have limited fuel imports, contributing to the energy crisis and causing airport fuel shortages. (news report)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Energy minister Vicente de la O Levy said vital services remain protected despite the blackout. (official statement)

Timeline

about 11 hours ago

[HEALTH] 3 sources
Cuba's Energy Crisis Deepens Health Crisis as Blackouts Persist Under U.S. Sanctions
Cuba's power grid collapses, leaving up to 10 million without electricity for days. Sanctions and aging Soviet plants fuel the crisis, while a 2025 study found extreme mental‑health impacts (55 % depression, 66
3 days ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
Cuba's Power Grid Blackout after Major Plant Failure
Cuba's power grid faces a massive blackout after the Antonio Guiteras plant fails, leaving most of the island without electricity and prompting public sarcasm and concerns over U.S. sanctions.
5 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
Cuba Faces Widespread Power Outages After Truck Crash and Storm Damage
A truck crash in Cienfuegos knocked out power to over 9,000 customers, while storm damage in Sancti Spíritus left numerous circuits and transformers offline, prompting extensive restoration work across Cuba.
8 days ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Cuba confronts illegal electricity sales and fuel scams amid energy shortages
Cuba faces illegal electricity sales and online fuel scams as energy shortages grip the island, prompting investigations and warnings from utility officials and Cuballama.
10 days ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Cuba power grid to lose 64% of supply amid deepening energy crisis
Cuban authorities will cut power to 64% of the island on July 19, 2026, as the nation grapples with a deepening energy crisis, frequent grid failures and aging thermal plants.
11 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
Cuban Communities Face Solar Equipment Theft and Funding Challenges
A Havana parish reports stolen solar lamps amid ongoing thefts, while residents in Sancti Spíritus raise funds to install solar panels for a state telecom radio base, restoring internet service.
11 days ago

[BUSINESS] 7 sources
Cuba Overhauls Payment System, Removes Cash Caps and Issues High‑Denomination Banknotes
Cuba’s Central Bank removed the 5,000 CUP cash cap, introduced 2,000 CUP and 5,000 CUP notes, raised electronic limits and cut merchant fees to boost digital payments and ease cash shortages.
11 days ago

[POLITICS] 6 sources
Cuba Endures Massive Power Outages and Water Shortages as Protests Escalate
Cuba faces a severe electricity deficit affecting 9.6 million people, water shortages, and rising protests across Havana as the government grapples with aging infrastructure and fuel shortages.
13 days ago

[POLITICS] 24 sources
Cuba Endures Nationwide Blackouts as Fuel Shortages and U.S. Sanctions Deepen Crisis
Cuba faces three nationwide blackouts in ten days as fuel shortages and U.S. sanctions cripple its power grid, leaving millions without electricity and sparking protests.
15 days ago

[POLITICS] 80 sources
Cuba suffers third nationwide blackout as power grid collapses
Cuba’s grid collapsed for the third time in under 10 days, cutting power to ~10 million people; a sudden unit shutdown, fuel shortages from the US embargo and aging plants are blamed, while authorities restore
16 days ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Cuba faces cash shortages that limit electronic payments
Cuba's Bandex bank provides solvency documents, but many citizens face cash shortages as businesses reject electronic transfers, hampered by limits, outages, and payment platform issues.
18 days ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Cuba's electric tricycles replace cars amid fuel shortages and blackouts
Electric tricycles, many solar‑powered, have supplanted cars in Cuba as fuel shortages and blackouts worsen, becoming vital transport for thousands.
18 days ago

[POLITICS] 67 sources
Cuba suffers second nationwide blackout in a week amid fuel shortages
Cuba endured a second total blackout in a week on 10 July 2026, affecting its 9.6 million residents. A failed 220 kV line and U.S. fuel blockade triggered the collapse; restoration efforts are underway.
21 days ago

[POLITICS] 58 sources
Cuba faces second island‑wide blackout in a week as US fuel blockade deepens crisis
Cuba suffered a second total blackout in a week on July 10, 2026 as U.S. fuel sanctions worsen an aging grid, prompting emergency recovery and sparking public hardship and protests.
23 days ago

[INTERNATIONAL] 82 sources
Cuba's National Power Grid Collapses Amid Fuel Shortage and US Sanctions
Cuba suffered its third nationwide blackout in six months, affecting 9.6 million people. The outage, blamed on aging plants, fuel shortages and U.S. sanctions, sparked emergency protocols and gradual grid‑resta
26 days ago

[POLITICS] 24 sources
Cuba faces record nationwide blackouts as power grid collapses
Cuba’s grid collapsed, cutting power to up to 72 % of the island due to generation deficits, plant outages and fuel shortages, sparking protests and blaming U.S. sanctions.
29 days ago

[POLITICS] 4 sources
Cuba sees record power outages and surge in street protests
Cuba’s June energy crisis sparked record blackouts and 107 street protests, as a 2,100 MW deficit left most of the country without power for days, prompting arrests and planned July repairs.
about 1 month ago

[CRIME] 2 sources
Cuba faces surge in solar panel thefts, disrupting TV and cellular services
Cuban authorities report rising solar‑panel thefts in Holguín and Ciego de Ávila, disrupting TV and mobile services; the government labels the crimes sabotage and imposes harsh penalties.
about 1 month ago

[CULTURE] 2 sources
Cuba launches new telenovela 'Entre Aguas' as country faces record electricity shortages
Cuba's state TV will debut the telenovela 'Entre Aguas' on July 1, despite a record electricity deficit and widespread outages that have sparked public sarcasm and protests.
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 6 sources
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Offline for Five Days for Weld Repairs
Cuba's largest thermal plant, Antonio Guiteras, will be offline for at least five days starting June 17 while workers repair over 100 welds after a failure damaged four tubes, deepening the nation's power‑suff
about 1 month ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
Cuba's Power Crisis Disrupts Electricity Supply and Telecom Services
Cuba faces a major electricity deficit, cutting power for over 60 % of the nation and crippling telecom services, with ETECSA unable to run beyond 24 hours without grid power despite limited solar backups.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 4 sources
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Restores Service to National Grid
Cuba’s Antonio Guiteras thermal plant was re‑connected to the national grid, targeting 200 MW output, as Guantánamo province stays largely without power after a transmission fault.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Cuba faces major electricity deficit as 11 thermal plants go offline
Cuba's power grid faces a 66% generation shortfall as 11 of 16 thermal plants are offline, leaving a 2,020 MW deficit and prompting prolonged blackouts, water shortages and citizen protests.
about 2 months ago

[TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
Cuba's Power Grid Faces Near 2,000 MW Deficit Amid Ongoing Outages
Cuba's electricity grid faces a near‑2,000 MW shortfall at peak demand, with limited thermal capacity and solar output unable to close the gap.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 3 sources
Cuba faces 1,990 MW power shortfall after two thermal plants go offline
Cuba's electricity grid faces a 1,990 MW shortfall after the Antonio Guiteras and Máximo Gómez plants go offline, straining supply amid peak demand.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras power plant awaits cooling after boiler fault
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras power plant is offline after a boiler fault; a 30‑hour cooling period precedes repairs that include weld replacements and part acquisitions complicated by the U.S. embargo.
about 2 months ago

[BUSINESS] 2 sources
Cuba faces over 2,000 MW electricity deficit after Guiteras plant outage
Cuba’s grid will face a >2,000 MW deficit at peak demand on Saturday after the Antonio Guiteras plant shuts down, with limited thermal capacity and solar output unable to fully compensate.
3 months ago

[BUSINESS] 8 sources
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras power plant shut for boiler repairs
Cuba's Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was taken offline early Thursday for boiler tube repairs in its economizer and reheater.

Sources

14ymedio.com · 5septiembre.cu · 84000.co · abc17news.com · acierta.mx · actualidad.rt.com · adelante · adelante.cu · adevarul.ro · agenparl.eu · aktual24.ro · alertas24.com · aljazeera.com · allegrini.it · america.aljazeera.com · amp.theguardian.com · anlatilaninotesi.com.tr · antaranews.com · antiguatribune.com · arabnews.pk · archyworldys.com · arynews.tv · ascendwrestling.com · autocasion.com · barbadosgazette.com · berita.rtm.gov.my · besuchsdienst.de · bilder3.n-tv.de · boereport.com · brasil247.com · brasildefators.com.br · ca.sports.yahoo.com · cartaeducacao.com.br · cbc.bb · china.timesofnews.com · chinesepress.com · cmhw · cmjornal.pt · cmjornal.xl.pt · cnbcindonesia.com · colombiapress.co · communitynews.com.au · confidencial.digital · confirmed.org · cuba.cu · cubactores.com · cubadebate · cubaenmiami.com