Cuba Faces Third Nationwide Blackout In Less Than 10 Days

[El Presidente]

https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/14/cuba-faces-third-nationwide-blackout-in-less-than-10-days/

Cuba Faces Third Nationwide Blackout In Less Than 10 Days

Residents in the worst affected areas have vented their frustrations by setting piles on trash on fire or banging on pots and pans.

Cuba’s power grid failed for the third time in less than 10 days, sparking another nationwide blackout, the national electricity company said Tuesday.

 

The national power grid completely went offline at about 11:05 am (1505 GMT), according to the state-run UNE electricity company.

It was the third complete blackout on the Caribbean island since early July and the fifth since the start of 2026. Authorities did not immediately reveal the cause.

“I have no words,” Maria Caridad Alvarez, a 62-year-old housewife, told AFP. “When I woke up this morning, the power was back and I cooked some beans. Now, I went out and it’s off again. It feels like there is no solution.”

David Matias Rodriguez, an 82-year-old retiree, said he was worried the few things in his refrigerator would be spoiled.

Cuba is reeling from its worst economic crisis in decades — one made worse by the fuel blockade imposed by US President Donald Trump in January as part of a pressure campaign aimed at ending six decades of communist rule.

In both of last week’s blackouts, it took more than 24 hours to restore power across the island of 9.6 million people, a process made slower and more complex by fuel shortages.

In the capital Havana, power outages totalled more than 30 hours at a time, while in the outlying provinces, it was several days before electricity was restored.

Residents in the worst affected areas have vented their frustrations by setting piles on trash on fire or banging on pots and pans.

 

UNE says the fuel shortages have made the national grid more susceptible to outages, and made the use of emergency generators all but impossible.

Relations between Washington and Havana have been tense since the start of the year, especially since US forces snatched Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from his home in early January and brought him to the US to face federal charges.

Maduro had long been a staunch ally of Cuba.

Washington has authorized the arrival of only one Russian tanker — carrying 100,000 tons of crude — which came in March. Those reserves have since been exhausted.

In addition to its oil blockade, the Trump administration has ramped up sanctions against Cuban state-owned businesses, prompting many foreign businesses to suspend operations in the country.

The United States has also indicted former president Raul Castro, brother of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, over the downing of two civilian planes three decades ago.

Late last month, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said “no progress” had been made in months of bilateral discussions.

AFP

[dan05]

How is all this affecting production? 

[VeguerosMAN]

Ah. That's why my Cuban girls haven't responded to me all day. Almost had a panic attack.

[mikec]

The only first hand reports I have got from Havana was 3-4 weeks ago and the Havana factories (La Corona,Partagas,Upmann,El Laguito) were operating at a reduced hours and the number of rollers showing up to work was touch and go on a daily basis. I heard unofficially only El Laguito was operating full tilt when power was available. The situation is obviously going to have a profound effect on supply and likely quality as well. Hang on to what you got and buy when feasible as finances allow. I would think supply will dwindle to a trickle sometime soon, but who knows? Getting information first hand is meager at this point and my friend who works in the cigar industry was in Havana for the last 2 months until three weeks ago. Everyone seems to be tight-lipped on what is happening on a week-to-week basis.

You seem to get only philosophical answers from the Cubans I know and very little actual hard information. The people are so resilient there, and there's always the belief things will work themselves out eventually, but then again even the hardest line Cubans are losing faith and time is not on their side this time. Other friends who own La Casas in Panama haven't received any shipments for months now and have only singles to sell to tourists and no box sales for weeks now.

[Chibearsv]

Damn, that situation is hard to comprehend. How can it get anything but worse for Cuban people. It’s simply cruel.