Cuba hit by third nationwide blackout in March as power grid collapses again

Cuba has suffered another nationwide power outage after its electricity grid collapsed for the third time this month, leaving millions without power and highlighting the country’s deepening energy crisis.

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The state-run Cuban Electric Union confirmed that the island experienced a total blackout on Saturday, though officials did not immediately provide a cause. Authorities said efforts were under way to restore electricity.

Repeated failures strain infrastructure

This latest outage follows a similar nationwide blackout earlier in the week, marking the second such incident in just a few days. Repeated failures have underscored the fragility of Cuba’s aging power infrastructure, which has struggled to meet demand in recent years.

Power disruptions—ranging from local outages to countrywide blackouts—have become increasingly frequent over the past two years. The system has been further destabilised by ongoing fuel shortages, forcing daily electricity cuts that can last up to 12 hours in some areas.

Daily life heavily affected

The impact on residents has been severe. Extended outages have disrupted working hours, limited the ability to cook, and led to food spoilage as refrigeration systems fail. For many households, the unpredictability of the power supply has become a daily challenge.

The government has acknowledged the scale of the problem, with President Miguel Díaz-Canel saying the country has not received oil shipments from foreign suppliers for the past three months. Domestic production currently covers only about 40% of national fuel needs, leaving a significant shortfall.

Energy shortages and political tensions

Officials have pointed to both structural and external factors behind the crisis. While the deteriorating grid has been a long-standing issue, authorities have also blamed US measures affecting energy supplies.

Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba, increasing pressure on foreign suppliers. The US administration has linked potential relief from sanctions to demands that Cuba release political prisoners and pursue economic and political reforms.

As outages continue, the combination of infrastructure decay and constrained fuel imports is expected to keep Cuba’s power system under strain.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 22 March 2026

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