Nationwide blackout in Cuba leaves millions without power

A nationwide blackout in Cuba left 10 million without power. While parts of Havana have electricity, most areas remain dark. The outage, the fourth since October, highlights the country's energy crisis amid fuel shortages and ageing infrastructure.

Large parts of Havana remain without power following a nationwide blackout that affected 10 million people, though some areas have begun to see electricity restored.

Havana’s electricity provider said around 19% of customers had regained power but gave no timeline for full restoration. The energy ministry restarted the Felton power plant to stabilise supply in the east, while the country's largest station, Antonio Guiteras, remains offline.

The blackout, triggered by a short circuit at a Havana substation, is the fourth since October. Cuba’s ageing oil-fired plants have struggled as fuel imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico declined, with daily power cuts lasting up to 20 hours in some areas.

Authorities blame US sanctions for the worsening crisis. In response, Cuba is working with China to expand solar energy projects to reduce reliance on outdated oil-powered plants.