Finance
Cuba Reconnects Electrical Grid but Millions Still Without Power
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 17, 2026
3 min readLast updated: March 17, 2026
Quick Summary
Cuba’s national electrical grid was largely reconnected by March 17, 2026, restoring power across most provinces, but generation remains critically low amid fuel shortages and aging infrastructure. Millions remain without reliable electricity despite progress.
Cuba Restores Parts of Grid but Millions Still Suffer Power Outages
Widespread Blackouts and Ongoing Crisis in Cuba
By Dave Sherwood and Daniel Trotta
Grid Collapse and Initial Restoration Efforts
March 17 (Reuters) - Cuba has reconnected its electrical grid across much of the island, the Energy and Mines Ministry said early on Tuesday, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against the communist-run island, saying he could do anything he wanted with Cuba.
Cuba's national electric grid collapsed on Monday, leaving about 10 million people without power amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade that has crippled the island's already obsolete generation system.
Energy officials said they had reconnected the grid from westernmost Pinar del Rio province to Holguin, near the eastern tip of the island. Santiago de Cuba, the country's second-largest city, remained offline, the reports said.
Challenges in Electricity Generation
Electricity generation, hampered by fuel shortages and antiquated power plants, remains sharply depressed across the island despite grid recovery efforts, providing scarce relief for Cubans already exhausted from months of blackouts.
Most Cubans, including those in the capital Havana, were seeing 16 or more hours of blackout daily even before the latest grid collapse, testing the patience of residents accustomed to hardship.
Impact on Daily Life
"It affects every aspect of our lives," said Havana resident Carlos Montes de Oca, who said the outages had thrown simple necessities such as food and water supply into disarray. "All we can do is sit, wait, read a book... otherwise the stress gets to you."
Uncertainty Over Cause and Contributing Factors
Cuba has yet to say what caused Monday's nationwide grid failure, the first such collapse since the United States cut off Cuba's oil supply from Venezuela and threatened to slap tariffs on countries that ship fuel to the island nation.
Much of Cuba was overcast on Monday morning as a cold front neared the island, casting shadows on the solar parks that account for a third or more of daytime generation.
Cuba has received only two small vessels carrying oil imports this year, according to LSEG ship tracking data seen by Reuters on Monday.
Diplomatic Efforts and Social Resilience
Time to Talk: U.S.-Cuba Negotiations
Cuba and the United States have opened talks aimed at defusing the crisis, among the most acute since 1959, when Fidel Castro forced a former U.S. ally from power on the island.
Neither side has provided details of the ongoing negotiations, though Trump has portrayed Cuba as desperate to make a deal.
Business Initiatives Amid Crisis
Monday's grid collapse overshadowed Cuba's invitation to Cuban Americans and other exiles living abroad to invest in and own businesses on the island, in an apparent gesture of goodwill amid the talks.
Endurance of the Cuban People
Despite the hardships and rhetoric, Cubans who for decades have ridden out good times and bad, saw little choice but to stay calm.
Voices from Havana
"We still don't have power at my house," said Havana resident Juana Perez. "But we'll take it in stride, as we Cubans always do."
(Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Daniel Trotta in Havana, additional reporting by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez, Alien Fernandez and Anett Rios;Editing by David Goodman and Bill Berkrot)
Key Takeaways
- •Grid restarted from Pinar del Río to Holguín, but major areas like Santiago de Cuba remain offline, leaving many without power. (apnews.com)
- •The blackout is tied to an acute energy crisis—triggered by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade, blocked fuel imports, and chronic underinvestment in aging thermoelectric plants. (apnews.com)
- •Solar parks provide some relief during daylight hours, but without storage and thermal backup, they are insufficient to fully meet demand or prevent outages. (en.cibercuba.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba reconnects electrical grid but millions still without power
1What caused the nationwide power outage in Cuba?
The article states that Cuba's grid failure occurred amid a U.S.-imposed oil blockade and fuel shortages affecting its aging generation system. An official cause has not yet been announced.
2How many people were affected by the blackout in Cuba?
About 10 million people were left without power after the collapse of Cuba's national electric grid.
3Has Cuba restored electricity after the blackout?
Cuba has reconnected much of the electrical grid across the island, but millions, including in major cities like Santiago de Cuba, remain without power.
4How has the U.S. oil blockade impacted Cuba's electricity supply?
The U.S. oil blockade has limited fuel supplies to Cuba, worsening generation issues and leading to prolonged blackouts for residents.
5Are there ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis?
Cuba and the United States have initiated talks aimed at easing the crisis, with few details yet released about the negotiations.
