Cuba works to restore power after another major nationwide blackout

Cuban authorities and the state-run electrical operator Unión Eléctrica (UNE) reported efforts to restore electricity after a widespread blackout that affected much of the island. The outage began in five eastern provinces, including Havana, and expanded to leave large areas without power. UNE said restorations were proceeding gradually and that by Saturday nearly half of its Havana customers had service again. Officials told Reuters the immediate trigger was a failure in high-voltage transmission lines in central Cuba, and UNE also cited unstable weather conditions as contributing to the collapse. The state utility did not provide a full timeline for complete nationwide restoration but indicated the re-energizing of the grid would continue as conditions allowed. This event adds to a string of power failures in recent months: United Nations and local accounts indicate this is at least the 12th blackout since late 2024 and at least the sixth so far this year. Longstanding issues — aging infrastructure and shortages of fuel for generation and backup systems — have driven recurring outages; Cuban residents described difficulties running diesel-fueled generators due to lack of imported fuel. The blackout comes after the United States imposed an energy-focused set of restrictions on Cuba in January. Cuban officials and some U.N. human rights experts have blamed the U.S. measures for worsening supply shortfalls, saying the blockade has compounded the island’s energy and humanitarian challenges. Residents interviewed by international news agencies described repeated and prolonged losses of electricity, along with related shortages of water and cooking fuel.