Power outage on the night of 4 December 2024 | |
| Date | 2024 blackouts: 8–13 February 2024 (2024-02-08 –2024-02-13) 17–19 March 2024 (2024-03-17 –2024-03-19) 5–6 October 2024 (2024-10-05 –2024-10-06) 18–24 October 2024 (2024-10-18 –2024-10-24) 4–5 December 2024 (2024-12-04 –2024-12-05) 2025 blackouts: 14–15 March 2025[citation needed] 10 September 2025–ongoing[1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Cuba (nationwide) |
| Type | Total and partialpower outages |
| Cause | |
| Outcome | Cuban government-imposed energy-saving measures |
A series of interruptions to the nationwide electrical service ofCuba occurred during the months of February, March, October and December 2024. The blackouts began in February 2024 withpower outages that affected nearly half of the country. In March, further blackouts causedwidespread protests. On 5–6 October, a third of the country experienced outages.[3] From 18 to 22 October 2024, a total nationwide blackout occurred due to the failure of the Antonio Guiteras Power Plant. During the October shutdowns, theCuban government announced energy-saving measures. The blackouts were the most severe living crisis that the country has experienced since thedissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.[4][7] Blackouts continued in the latter half of 2025 from mechanical failures, severe weather, and continuing fuel and spare part shortages.[8][9]
Parts of Cuba experienced blackouts starting on 8 February 2024. On February 13, 45% of the country was affected by power outages.[2]
In March 2024, Cuba experienced large-scale power outages,[10][11][12][13] amidst an economic crisis that hit the country.[14] The blackouts, which peaked on 17 March and typically lasted for up to 18 hours a day, were due to the frequent breakdowns of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, the largest provider of electricity to the island, and the lack of fuel shipments from Cuba's alliesRussia andVenezuela.[15] Infrastructure problems within the country were also cited to be one of the key factors for the March blackouts.[16] Hundreds of people in Cuba's second-largest city,Santiago de Cuba, protested to express their dissatisfaction with chronic power blackouts and food shortages.[4]
On 5 October 2024, Cuba's electrical service experienced interruptions. The next day, a deficit of 1.045gigawatts in the country's power output caused about a third of its population to go without power.[3]
On 17 October 2024, a blackout left roughly half of Cuba without electricity,[17] prompting the government of Cuba to announce energy-saving measures.[18]
A total nationwide power outage began at around 11:00 local time on 18 October, after the Antonio Guiteras Power Plant inMatanzas, the country's largest, went offline,[4] resulting in the loss of 1.64 gigawatts at peak hours, equivalent to half the total consumer demand.[17] Power was partially restored for a short time before shutting down entirely again on 20 October. By 21 October, state media claimed that power had been restored to 50% of customers inHavana,[19] while electricity had been restored to 70.89% of the nationwide population by 22 October.[20] Some service disruptions were still reported on 23 October;[21] however, it was reported that the power supply has been restored to the entire island the next day, according to the Cuba Tourist Board and Canadian airlineSunwing Airlines, which operates flights to several Cuban airports.[22]
First Secretary of the Communist Party of CubaMiguel Díaz-Canel blamed the blackout on theUnited States embargo against Cuba, which he said prevented much needed supplies and replacement parts from reaching Cuba. Cuban Prime MinisterManuel Marrero Cruz blamed deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand for the outages and said that the fuel shortages were the biggest factor. Cuba has suffered from a drop in fuel shipments from Venezuela in 2024.[4]
On 6 November,Hurricane Rafael made landfall nearPlaya Majana,Artemisa Province, causing a nationwide blackout.[23]
On 4 December, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant failed again, causing a nationwide blackout.[24]
A 24-hour blackout ensued following a mechanical breakdown at one of Cuba's largest plants on 11 September 2025.[25]
Following two days of peak-hour power shortages across the island, a transmission line failure on 3 December 2025 caused a 12-hour total blackout in the greater Havana region.[26]
All non-essential public services were suspended starting on 17 October and were to remain closed along with schools until 23 October.[19][27] Dissemination of information related toHurricane Oscar, which made landfall nearBaracoa on 20 October, was interrupted.[28][29]
Government celebrations for Cuban Culture Day scheduled for 21–23 October were cancelled, in an effort to reduce strain on the electrical network.[30] First Secretary Díaz-Canel also cancelled his physical attendance at the16th BRICS summit in Russia to attend to the blackout.[31]
First Secretary of the Communist Party of CubaMiguel Díaz-Canel blamed the outages on difficulties in importing fuel and other resources due to "financial and energy persecution" by the United States.[32] Local authorities noted causes including increased demand from small- and medium-sized companies and residential air conditioners, as well as poor maintenance of power plants.[33]
Díaz-Canel also stated that any protests to the government's response would not be tolerated and that all protesters would be "processed rigorously under our revolutionary law". Shortly after protests started in October, Díaz-Canel and prime ministerManuel Marrero Cruz appeared on a televised address inmilitary fatigues claiming "counter-revolutionaries from abroad" were fomenting protests in Cuba.[34] Díaz-Canel also stated that "we have organized from the defense councils" and "we are not going to accept and we will not allow anyone to act by provoking vandalistic acts, much less disturbing the peace of our people, and that is a conviction and that is a principle of our revolution".[35]
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy claimed the October outages would end by 21 or 22 October; however,Hurricane Oscar made landfall in Cuba on 20 October, severely disrupting efforts to restore the grid.[33]
On 17 March and 18 March 2024, blackouts alongside a poor harvest and food shortages[36][11][37] caused[12][13] widespread protests primarily inSantiago de Cuba, Cuba's second largest city, during which three people were arrested.[10][38] Cuba accused thegovernment of the United States of stirring up unrest, an accusation that the United States denied.[39][40]
Protests also erupted hours after the October blackout began.[41] Protesters in theSantos Suárez [es] neighborhood ofHavana constructed makeshiftbarricades in the streets. Without electricity, Havana'swater pumps could not operate, nor could food be refrigerated, leaving many residents in a state of "desperation".[33] In an effort to quell protests in Havana, the government cutinternet access and deployed police formations to clear protesters by force.[42] In Santiago de Cuba, large police formations were deployed to deter protesters, however, some residents still took to the streets protesting the lack of electricity.[43] Protests also took place inManicaragua, where protesters surrounded the local government headquarters chanting "Down with!" and "Abusers!"[44]
Mexican presidentClaudia Sheinbaum confirmed the shipment of approximately 500,000 barrels of oil to the island along with technicians to help assist the situation.[45][46]
The long blackouts of up to 18 hours are reminiscent of those experienced in the 1990s during the so-called Special Period, after the loss of aid from the former Soviet Union. Now, the shipment of fuel from allied countries such as Russia and Venezuela has been affected, in addition to the recurrent breakdowns of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, the country's main one.
On Wednesday [23 October], service was disrupted by insufficient generation capacity. Though power was restored by 3:34 a.m., by 5:48 a.m. service was once again affected due to generation shortages.
Sunwing adds that "power (was) restored throughout the island of Cuba as of the evening of October 22." The company states that its information is sourced from reports from Cuban officials and updates from in-destination and hotel partners.
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