Overview

• The latest blackout, caused by a technical failure at a substation near Havana, began on Friday, March 14, 2025, and lasted up to 48 hours in many areas.
• Electricity has been restored to over 94% of connections in Havana, but significant outages persist in provinces like Artemisa, Pinar del Río, and Mayabeque.
• Nationwide, only half of peak electricity demand is currently being met, with 1500 megawatts available according to state energy provider UNE.
• The Cuban government attributes the crisis to the U.S. trade embargo and aging infrastructure, which hampers access to critical resources and modernization efforts.
• The crisis exacerbates hardships in Cuba's worst economic downturn since the 1990s, with residents enduring prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and inflation.