Trending Now - Cuba Faces Ongoing Blackouts Amid Tourism Surge and Fuel Crisis
WHO:
President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba.
Nicolás Maduro, President of Venezuela, was seized in early January 2026.
Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba, stated his administration would not negotiate with Washington.
Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines of Cuba, confirmed efforts to restore the electrical system.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba reported on the blackout.
WHAT:
A blackout affected the western half of Cuba on March 4, 2026, leaving millions without power.
The blackout was caused by an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant.
Nearly 7 million of Cuba's approximately 10 million inhabitants were left without power.
The outage affected 10 of the 15 provinces in Cuba, including Havana.
The blackout was the second to hit western Cuba in three months and the fifth partial blackout in less than six months.
Air France announced the suspension of flights between Paris and Havana starting March 28, 2026, due to Cuba's fuel shortage, with a planned resumption on June 15, 2026.
Cuba's Electric Union reported that only 34% of customers in Havana had power as of March 5, 2026.
WHERE:
The blackout affected the western region of Cuba, including the capital, Havana, and extended from Pinar del Río to Camagüey.
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant is located approximately 62 miles east of Havana.
WHEN:
The blackout occurred on March 4, 2026.
Air France's flight suspension begins on March 28, 2026, and is expected to last until June 15, 2026.
Cuba's government notified airlines on February 8, 2026, that jet fuel would not be available at nine airports until March 11, 2026.
The U.S. military operation that captured Nicolás Maduro occurred in early January 2026.
WHY:
The blackout was attributed to a fragile electric grid and dwindling oil reserves exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and the cessation of Venezuelan oil shipments.
The U.S. attack on Venezuela in January 2026 halted critical petroleum shipments to Cuba.
HOW:
The Cuban government confirmed the blackout was due to an unforeseen shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras power plant.
Crews were working to restore power, with estimates indicating it could take three to four days for full restoration.
On March 4, a blackout struck the western half of Cuba, leaving nearly 7 million people without power after an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant. The outage, which affected ten of the fifteen provinces including Havana, is the second major blackout in just three months and highlights the challenges posed by a fragile electric grid and dwindling oil reserves. Meanwhile, President Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba, as the Cuban government confirmed efforts to restore power while also facing a fuel shortage that has led Air France to suspend flights between Paris and Havana starting March 28.