Finance
Cuba Begins Recovery Efforts After Second Grid Collapse in a Week
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 22, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 22, 2026
Quick Summary
Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed again on March 21, 2026, the second national blackout in a week and third this month, triggered by failure of Unit 6 at Nuevitas. Restoration began via microsystems and gas-fired plants amid a worsening energy crisis tied to aging infrastructure and a U.S.-led oil bl
Cuba begins recovery efforts after second grid collapse in a week
Nationwide Blackout and Recovery Efforts
By Dave Sherwood
HAVANA, March 22 (Reuters) - Cuba said it had begun efforts early on Sunday to restore power after its grid collapsed for the second time in a week amid a U.S. oil blockade that has dealt a major blow to the island's already ailing energy infrastructure.
Details of the Grid Collapse
The grid collapsed Saturday evening at 6:32 p.m. (2232 GMT) after a major power plant in Nuevitas, in eastern Cuba's Camaguey province, failed and went offline, grid operator UNE said, causing a cascade effect that knocked out power to the nation's approximately 10 million people.
Emergency Measures and Restoration
Cuba's energy and mines ministry said early on Sunday it had established microsystems - smaller, closed circuits - in all of the island's provinces to restore power for vital services like hospitals, water supply and food distribution.
The country's two gas-fired power plants, operated by Energas, were running in Varadero and Boca de Jaruco, and electricity had reached the nearby Santa Cruz oil-fired plant, the energy ministry said on social media.
Impact on Daily Life
Shortly after sunrise on Sunday, the streets of the capital Havana were crowded with early risers sitting on doorsteps, lamenting the situation with neighbors and swatting mosquitoes in cool weather under clear skies.
"Life doesn't change. We're stuck in the same rut," said Havana resident Leoni Alberto, who said he was forced to cook with firewood at least twice a week due to the outages. "It's absolute madness. There's no other way around it."
Cellular service and internet was almost entirely unavailable in most areas, leaving many without communication of any kind.
Cuban prime minister Manuel Marrero said the recovery effort was taking place under "very complex circumstances."
Recent History of Grid Failures
Frequency and Severity of Outages
TWICE IN A WEEK
Cuba's electrical grid has been teetering on the edge of collapse and unreliable for months, leaving the island's residents in the dark for hours a day, and sometimes longer, even in better times.
But Saturday's blackout incident marks the third major power outage this month, as a majority of the system went down on March 4 when a key thermoelectric generating plant failed. The power grid also went completely offline on Monday for unexplained reasons.
Cuba has experienced a series of total outages in recent years, but two nationwide blackouts in the space of a week is exceptional.
International Factors and U.S. Sanctions
U.S. President Donald Trump began taking measures to block oil from reaching the Caribbean island after Washington deposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3. Venezuela had previously provided oil to its close ally on favorable terms.
Since then, Trump has cut off Venezuelan exports to Cuba and threatened other countries with punitive tariffs if they sell oil to the island.
Blame and Economic Impact
Cuba has long blamed the U.S. trade embargo for economic failures including its obsolete power grid, while Washington has attributed the shortfalls to Cuba's Soviet-style command economy.
(Reporting by Dave Sherwood in Havana; additional reporting by Anett Rios and Alien Fernandez, Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Key Takeaways
- •Saturday’s blackout, at 6:32 p.m. local time, was caused by failure of Unit 6 at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant, triggering a nationwide cascading grid collapse. (apnews.com)
- •This marks the second total grid failure in a week and third in March, exposing the fragility of Cuba’s aging, under-maintained power infrastructure. (apnews.com)
- •Authorities have activated microsystems—localized, closed-loop circuits—in all provinces to prioritize electricity delivery to hospitals, water systems, and vital services; gas‑fired plants in Varadero and Boca de Jaruco have also come online to aid recovery. (apnews.com)
- •The deepening crisis reflects compounded issues: structural decay in the National Electric System, chronic fuel shortages, and intensified strain from a U.S. oil blockade that cuts off critical Venezuelan energy support. (time.com)
- •International responses include arrival of an aid convoy and pledges of renewable energy collaboration (e.g. from China), signaling some external efforts to alleviate the hardships. (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba begins recovery efforts after second grid collapse in a week
1What caused the recent nationwide blackout in Cuba?
A major power plant in Nuevitas, Camaguey province, failed and went offline, causing a cascade that knocked out power to the whole nation.
2How is Cuba restoring power after the blackout?
Cuba established microsystems in all provinces to restore power for vital services such as hospitals, water supply, and food distribution.
3How many major blackouts has Cuba experienced recently?
Cuba has suffered three major power outages this month, including two nationwide blackouts in one week.
4What role does the US oil blockade play in Cuba's energy crisis?
The US oil blockade, started under President Trump, cut off Cuban oil supplies, worsening the strain on its energy infrastructure.
5Which areas are getting priority for power restoration?
Vital services, including hospitals, water supply, and food distribution, are getting priority during power restoration.
