Cuba’s Ministry of Energy announces the collapse of the entire national power grid / It is the seventh total blackout recorded since the beginning of the year

Cuba’s national power grid completely collapsed on Friday, September 18, 2026, causing a blackout across the entire island, Havana’s Energy Ministry announced. The power outage is affecting approximately nine million residents and is the seventh total blackout recorded in Cuba since the beginning of the year.

The incident comes amid a severe energy crisis fueled by fuel shortages, deteriorating infrastructure, and the economic difficulties the island has faced for several years. Even when the grid is operating, authorities are frequently forced to implement scheduled outages.

Cuba’s energy system relies on seven thermoelectric power plants, all more than 40 years old and affected by wear and tear. Havana accuses the United States of worsening the crisis through oil restrictions, while Washington attributes the situation to the Cuban government’s poor economic management. In March, a single Russian oil tanker carrying approximately 100,000 tonnes of crude oil was granted permission to reach Cuba since January.

The blackout is deepening tensions between Havana and Washington, already heightened by disputes over regional security and Cuba’s relationship with its allies.