Cuba Faces Widespread Blackout as Power Grid Fails Again
WHO:
Fox News - The entire population of Cuba is affected by the blackout.
ABC News - Millions of people across the island are left without electricity.
WHAT:
CNN - Blackouts have been a feature of life in Cuba for decades, exacerbated by Trump’s ban on oil sales to Havana.
CNN - The Juraguá nuclear power plant was intended to be built and financed with the help of the Soviet Union in the early 1980s.
CNN - The project for the Juraguá nuclear power plant was abandoned due to US opposition, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
CNN - The plant was decommissioned in 1992 before ever becoming operational.
CNN - The Angra plant in Brazil has two reactors with a capacity to generate around 2,000 megawatts, which is just shy of the deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union on September 16.
CNN - The Juraguá nuclear power plant was intended to be the first of three plants to provide 15% of Cuba's electricity needs.
CNN - The Juraguá nuclear power plant was decommissioned in 1992 before ever becoming operational.
CNN - The Angra plant in Brazil has two reactors with a capacity to generate around 2,000 megawatts, which is just shy of the deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union on September 16.
CNN - The Juraguá nuclear power plant, intended to provide 15% of Cuba's electricity needs, was never completed due to US opposition, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Fox News - Cuba's entire electrical grid collapsed, triggering a nationwide blackout.
ABC News - The blackout has resulted in widespread power outages across the island.
WHERE:
Fox News - The blackout occurred across the entire island of Cuba.
ABC News - Millions of people in various locations throughout Cuba are affected.
WHEN:
Fox News - The electrical grid collapsed on a Friday.
WHY:
Fox News - The cause of the electrical grid collapse is not specified in the articles.
HOW:
CNN - The project faced opposition from the United States due to safety concerns regarding its proximity to the US.
CNN - The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989 significantly impacted the project's viability.
CNN - The project for the Juraguá nuclear power plant was abandoned due to US opposition, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the Soviet Union.
CNN - The Angra plant in Brazil has two reactors with a capacity to generate around 2,000 megawatts, which is just shy of the deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union on September 16.
Fox News - The blackout led to cellphone and internet outages reported across the island.
(UPDATED September 19, 2026 15:59 UTC)
Cuba has long struggled with blackouts, a situation worsened by Trump's ban on oil sales to Havana. The Juraguá nuclear power plant, which was supposed to be built with Soviet assistance in the early 1980s, was ultimately abandoned due to U.S. opposition, safety concerns, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, leading to its decommissioning in 1992 without ever becoming operational. Meanwhile, Brazil's Angra plant, with two reactors generating around 2,000 megawatts, highlights the significant energy deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union just days ago.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 12:57 UTC)
The Juraguá nuclear power plant in Cuba was originally planned to be the first of three facilities aimed at supplying 15% of the country's electricity needs, but it was decommissioned in 1992 before it ever became operational. This project was ultimately abandoned due to a combination of US opposition, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Brazil's Angra plant, which has two reactors capable of generating around 2,000 megawatts, is just shy of the deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union on September 16.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 11:56 UTC)
The Juraguá nuclear power plant in Cuba, which was meant to supply 15 percent of the country's electricity needs, remains unfinished due to a combination of U.S. opposition, the Chernobyl disaster, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, Brazil's Angra plant, equipped with two reactors, has a generation capacity of about 2,000 megawatts, which is nearly equal to the deficit reported by Cuba's Electric Union on September 16. This ongoing energy situation highlights the challenges Cuba faces in meeting its electricity demands.
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(UPDATED September 19, 2026 01:20 UTC)
Cuba is currently experiencing a nationwide blackout that has left millions without electricity after the entire electrical grid collapsed. The blackout has resulted in widespread power outages and has also caused cellphone and internet outages reported throughout the island. While the specific cause of the grid failure has not been detailed, it is clear that the entire population of Cuba is affected by this crisis.