Sun Mar 16 21:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Cuba Plunged into Darkness After Nationwide Power Grid Collapse
HAVANA, Cuba – Millions of Cubans are enduring another widespread blackout after the national power grid failed on Friday evening. The collapse, triggered by a breakdown at the Diezmero substation in Havana, has left the island nation struggling with minimal electricity generation, less than 10% of total demand.
This marks the fourth nationwide blackout in recent months, following three others in the latter half of 2024, and comes amidst Cuba’s worst economic crisis in three decades. While the government is attributing the ongoing power shortages to a combination of US sanctions and reduced Venezuelan oil subsidies, residents express growing frustration.
State-run Union Electrica (UNE) reports that only about 225 MW of electricity is currently being generated. Authorities state that parallel circuits are supplying power to essential services like hospitals, but widespread outages continue. Residents in Havana are reporting near-daily power cuts of four to five hours, while those in other regions have faced rolling blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day in recent weeks.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated on X that parallel circuits and generator units are being synchronized with the national grid, but offered no timeline for the restoration of full power. Citizens interviewed express anxiety and uncertainty about the duration of the outage and the ongoing economic hardship.
The government is attempting to mitigate the energy crisis by rapidly installing at least 55 solar farms using Chinese technology, aiming for 1,200 MW of additional capacity by the end of the year. However, the immediate impact of this project remains unclear as the nation grapples with the consequences of the latest grid failure.
First Piper 