Cuba was plunged into darkness on September 10, 2025, as a nationwide blackout swept across the island, marking the second time this year that the country has faced a total loss of power. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the outage on social platform X, attributing the incident to a malfunction at one of the nation’s largest thermoelectric plants. According to Argelio Abad, vice minister at the ministry, the grid collapsed after “an apparently erroneous message warning of overheating” led to the plant’s disconnection (as reported by Business Standard and other outlets).
The blackout affected nearly every corner of the island, home to roughly 10 million people. It followed closely on the heels of three other major outages reported late in 2024, underscoring persistent issues with Cuba’s aging power infrastructure and chronic fuel shortages. The Ministry of Energy and Mines indicated that the latest failure could be traced to technical problems at the thermoelectric plant, a facility that—like many others in Cuba—has been operating for more than 30 years.
Officials wasted no time in trying to address the crisis. Abad explained on state television that crews immediately began establishing a "microsystem"—a temporary grid designed to deliver electricity to critical infrastructure, including hospitals, food production facilities, and other essential services. Within hours, power had returned to many of these high-priority sites, though the majority of ordinary residents remained in the dark as restoration efforts continued.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero made a rare appearance at the headquarters of Cuba’s state-run power company. On state television, he appealed to the public for patience and trust, promising that electricity would be restored gradually. “We ask for your trust,” Marrero said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to resolving the crisis as quickly as possible.
For many Cubans, however, reassurance from officials did little to ease the immediate hardships. “If you buy something, you don’t know if you’ll be able to keep it. Many people’s food has spoiled,” said 65-year-old Mayté García, who spent the day outside, trying to take in some fresh air as she waited for the lights to come back on. García, like many others, expected to be without power for at least a couple of days.
Havana, the bustling capital of two million residents, remained strikingly calm in the face of the outage. Yet, as night approached, many people hurried to secure basic goods before darkness fell. “I came to get bread,” said Katie Cárdenas, a 48-year-old public employee. She expressed concern about being left without essentials, a worry shared by countless others across the city and beyond.
Daily life ground to a halt in many respects. Traffic lights in Havana went dark, creating hazards at busy intersections, while social and cultural activities were suspended across the city. Despite the widespread disruption, gas stations continued to operate, with pumps dispensing fuel to those who could reach them. Internet service, never particularly robust in Cuba, slowed to a crawl or dropped out entirely in several neighborhoods, further isolating residents during the blackout.
For some, the latest outage was just another chapter in a long history of power problems. “I have a small power plant... but many people are complaining because they will be affected,” said 65-year-old Aurelio Chacón. Over the years, recurring outages have prompted those with means—particularly small entrepreneurs, well-off individuals, and residents with family support abroad—to invest in solar panels, rechargeable devices, and backup generators. These preparations, while helpful for a minority, have done little to relieve the broader population’s vulnerability.
The blackout was not confined to Havana. Earlier in the same week, a separate outage hit Cuba’s eastern region, plunging communities from Las Tunas to Guantánamo into darkness for several hours. The frequency and scale of these events have forced the government to take extraordinary measures. In February 2025, for instance, authorities suspended classes and work activities nationwide for two days due to a shortage in electricity generation capacity.
The roots of Cuba’s energy crisis run deep. Years of underinvestment, maintenance backlogs, and a lack of spare parts have left the country’s thermoelectric plants in a precarious state. Many of these facilities have been in operation for more than three decades, well past their intended lifespan. The situation has been exacerbated by a severe economic downturn and tightening U.S. sanctions, which are designed to pressure the Cuban government to alter its political model.
These sanctions have had a profound impact on the country’s ability to secure the foreign currency necessary to purchase fuel and equipment for repairs. As a result, Cuba has struggled to maintain even a basic level of power generation. The Ministry of Energy and Mines acknowledged that the most recent blackout, like those before it, was directly linked to these economic and logistical constraints.
Despite the challenges, Cuban authorities have tried to project an image of calm and control. The establishment of the microsystem for critical services was touted as evidence of the government’s ability to respond quickly under pressure. Yet, for ordinary citizens, the reality on the ground was far more uncertain. Many worried about food spoiling in powerless refrigerators, the loss of internet connectivity, and the disruption of daily routines.
The resilience of the Cuban people was on full display as neighbors supported one another and shared resources where possible. Still, the blackout exposed deep vulnerabilities in the island’s infrastructure and highlighted the urgent need for investment and modernization. As the sun set on September 10, families gathered in courtyards and on balconies, lighting candles and waiting for the distant hum of electricity to return.
While power was gradually restored to hospitals and essential businesses, the path to a stable and reliable energy supply remains uncertain. The government faces mounting pressure to find long-term solutions, but with resources stretched thin and external constraints tightening, the outlook is anything but clear. For now, Cubans continue to adapt, drawing on ingenuity and solidarity to weather the latest in a long series of blackouts.
Each outage serves as a stark reminder of the island’s ongoing struggles—and the resilience of its people in the face of adversity.