Cuba’s Energy Crisis Deepens with Major Blackout
At approximately 8:15 p.m. local time, Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines reported a significant outage at the Diezmero substation, located on the outskirts of Havana. This incident led to a major loss of electricity generation in western Cuba and caused the National Electric System to fail. The ministry announced via its account on the social platform X that efforts are underway to restore power.
As a result, Havana’s streets were plunged into darkness, with light visible only from hotel windows powered by generators. Internet services were also disrupted. Residents as far as Guantánamo, Artemisa, Santiago de Cuba, and Santa Clara reported experiencing power outages with only brief flickers of light.
Earlier, the Electric Union, which oversees the sector, indicated in its daily report that demand during peak hours would reach about 3,250 megawatts, with a deficit predicted to be around 1,380 megawatts. This shortfall implies that 42% of the country’s energy system could be non-operational. Although significant, this figure is not unprecedented in recent times.
A resident navigates a darkened street in Havana during the blackout on Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Cuba has experienced multiple extensive power cuts towards the end of the previous year, exacerbating the island’s economic crisis. Frequent outages, affecting more than half of the country, are primarily attributed to fuel shortages and outdated infrastructure. Electricity is vital for essential services like cooking and water supply in many regions.
In response, authorities have initiated a program to install photovoltaic parks, with promises that several will be operational this year. Past blackouts have sparked anti-government protests in 2021, 2022, and 2024. The ongoing power issues continue to challenge the resilience of Cuban infrastructure and society.
