Cuba suffers fifth nationwide blackout in a year

Cuba suffered a nationwide blackout on Wednesday, the fifth on the cash-strapped Caribbean island in under a year, the energy ministry announced.

"A total disconnection of the SEN electricity system has occurred, which may be associated with an unexpected shutdown" of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the island's biggest, the ministry said on its X account.

The Antonio Guiteras plant is the biggest of Cuba's eight decrepit oil-fired power plants, some of which are more than 40 years old.


Cuba has been battered by an energy crisis, marked by hours-long daily blackouts, system breakdowns and an acute shortage of fuel.

In October 2024, the island, which is suffering its worst economic crisis in three decades, was plunged into darkness for several days following a shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras plant.

The blackouts have led to rare anti-government protests.