Cuba plunged into darkness again as power grid collapsed nationwide: Reports

Cuba was plunged into nationwide darkness for the second time in a week after the country’s national power grid collapsed again, following a similar outage earlier this month, as per reports.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines said the National Electric System had suffered a complete failure, triggering a widespread blackout across the island. 

Efforts were under way to restore electricity in phases.

As per reports, the latest outage comes days after a major blackout on March 16, also caused by the collapse of the national grid, underscoring the fragility of Cuba’s ageing energy infrastructure.

Earlier, President Miguel Díaz-Canel had reportedly acknowledged that the country has faced severe fuel shortages, with limited oil imports over the past three months forcing reliance on alternative sources such as solar energy, natural gas and existing thermal power plants.

The ongoing energy crisis has been exacerbated by supply constraints and reduced oil shipments, including disruptions involving Venezuela, a key supplier, and tightening external pressures affecting fuel imports.

Authorities have implemented emergency measures, including fuel rationing and cuts to non-essential services, as the situation continues to strain the country’s economy and public services.

The repeated blackouts have disrupted daily life for millions, affecting hospitals, businesses and communications, and fuelling public discontent. Protests have been reported in parts of the country, including Havana and other towns, with some demonstrations turning tense as security forces intervened.