Cuba suffers third national blackout in six months amid fuel crisis

Cuba suffered its third national blackout in 2026 on Monday, leaving the island's 9.6 million inhabitants without power after a total disconnection of the Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (SEN) Source: elnacionalve. The blackout, the eighth since late 2024, comes as the country's aging infrastructure and a US oil blockade strain fuel supplies Source: larepublicaco.

What happened

At 12:17 local time, the state-run Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported a 'total disconnection' of the SEN, with investigators still determining the exact cause. Initial reports point to a voltage oscillation combined with critically low generation capacity, which had already forecast a 71% outage before the collapse Source: elcaribedr. The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, Cuba's largest, remains offline for maintenance after over 15 failures this year Source: diariolibree.

Restoration challenges

Power restoration has been slow due to fuel shortages. By Tuesday, 10 of 15 provinces had partial service, but only 32.6% of Havana clients had electricity Source: cnn. The lack of diesel for backup generators, which normally cover 40% of the grid, has stalled recovery Source: elconfidencial. Official statements say 'the lack of fuel complicates the restoration process' Source: infobae.

Political reactions

President Miguel Díaz-Canel blamed the US energy blockade, calling it a 'genocidal' attempt to provoke social unrest Source: diariolibree. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced a 'multidimensional and unconventional war' at the UN General Assembly, where a resolution supporting Cuba passed 136-9 with 30 abstentions Source: larepublicaco. The US ambassador to the UN, Jeff Bartos, dismissed the debate as a waste of time Source: larepublicaco.

Broader context

Cuba's energy crisis has deepened since January, when the Trump administration halted most fuel shipments. Daily blackouts now exceed 30 hours in Havana and up to 70 hours in rural areas Source: excelsiormx. Residents express despair: 'Living like this is agony' Source: infobae.