Cuba's Energy Grid Faces Renewed Collapse with Partial Recovery in Havana

The fourth nationwide blackout in five months highlights the fragility of Cuba's outdated infrastructure, leaving millions without power and disrupting daily life.

• The latest blackout, caused by a technical failure at a substation near Havana, began on Friday, March 14, 2025, and lasted up to 48 hours in many areas.
• Electricity has been restored to over 94% of connections in Havana, but significant outages persist in provinces like Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and Mayabeque.
• Nationwide, only half of peak electricity demand is currently being met, with 1500 megawatts available according to state energy provider UNE.
• The Cuban government attributes the crisis to the U.S. trade embargo and aging infrastructure, which hampers access to critical resources and modernization efforts.
• The crisis exacerbates hardships in Cuba's worst economic downturn since the 1990s, with residents enduring prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and inflation.

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