In short
- Cuba’s national electricity grid suffered a “total disconnection” on Friday, 18 September 2026, leaving millions without power, according to the country’s energy ministry.
- Grid operator UNE said the outage began just before 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) because of a transmission fault and poor weather conditions in central Cuba.
- It was at least the sixth partial or total blackout to hit Cuba in 2026.
- Venezuela was believed to have supplied Cuba with around 35,000 barrels of oil a day, about half its needs, until those shipments stopped after the US seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in January.
- Havana resident Francisco Rodriguez, 78, said his home had gone without power for 28 hours on Friday and that he feared having no light “for several days”.
Cuba’s national grid suffered a “total disconnection” on Friday, 18 September 2026, leaving millions without power, the country’s energy ministry said. Power was restored to priority areas in Havana, including hospitals and water pumping stations, by late evening, grid operator UNE said.
What caused Cuba’s latest blackout?
UNE said the outage began just before 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Friday, triggered by a transmission fault combined with poor weather conditions in central Cuba. Felix Estrada, the grid operator’s national load dispatch director, said protocols for a “gradual restoration” of power had been activated, and that the process was continuing on Saturday.
How many blackouts has Cuba had this year?
The outage on 18 September is at least the sixth partial or total blackout to hit Cuba in 2026. The island’s electricity infrastructure is ageing, and a US blockade on oil shipments to the communist-run country has placed chronic fuel shortages under further strain.
How are Cubans coping with the outages?
Food and medicine have become more scarce, hospitals are struggling to function normally, and schools and government offices have had to close. Havana resident Frank Lorenzo told the news agency Reuters that the cuts had become routine. “Lately, it’s becoming a habit,” he said. “Before it happened less frequently – once a month… just yesterday we were 24 hours without electricity, they turned it on for just an hour and it went down again.”
Lidia Fernandez, a 36-year-old schoolteacher, told the news agency AFP: “It’s one thing after another: no water, no gas for cooking, no electricity. Honestly, I don’t know how we haven’t gone crazy.” Francisco Rodriguez, 78, said his home had already gone without power for 28 hours on Friday and that he feared he would not have light “for several days”.
The repeated blackouts have prompted rare protests in Cuba, where unauthorised demonstrations are illegal and those who defy the ban risk being jailed.
Why has Venezuela’s oil stopped reaching Cuba?
Cuba relies heavily on imported fuel, and a US oil blockade in place since the start of the year has deepened shortages that were already chronic. Venezuela was believed to have supplied Cuba with around 35,000 barrels a day — about half its oil needs — until those shipments were cut off after the US seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Separately, Maduro ally Alex Saab has pleaded guilty in a US money laundering case.
What has the US said about the crisis?
Washington attributes Cuba’s energy crisis to poor internal management and has accused the island of posing a “national security threat”. US President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries shipping oil to Havana, and a number of such shipments have been seized by the US. Trump has also openly discussed toppling Cuba’s leadership, including threatening a “friendly takeover” in March this year. Havana blames its fuel crisis on the Trump administration and has denounced all US sanctions, including a new round announced in August. Washington has also dropped Venezuela and Bolivia from its drug non-compliance list.
Frequently asked questions
How many blackouts has Cuba had in 2026?
The 18 September disconnection of the national grid was at least the sixth partial or total blackout to hit Cuba this year, according to the country’s energy ministry and grid operator UNE.
What caused Cuba’s 18 September blackout?
UNE said the outage began just before 14:00 local time (18:00 GMT) because of a transmission fault combined with poor weather conditions in central Cuba. Power was restored to priority areas in Havana, including hospitals and water pumping stations, by late evening.
Why is Cuba short of fuel?
Cuba relies heavily on imported fuel and a US blockade on oil shipments has deepened chronic shortages. Venezuela was believed to have supplied around 35,000 barrels a day, about half Cuba’s needs, until those shipments stopped after the US seizure of President Nicolás Maduro in January.
What has the US said about Cuba’s energy crisis?
Washington attributes Cuba’s energy crisis to poor internal management and has accused the island of posing a “national security threat”, while Havana blames the fuel crisis on the Trump administration and its sanctions.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
