Cuba Faces Widespread Blackout Amid Fuel Crisis and U.S. Pressure

A major blackout has left millions in western Cuba, including the capital Havana, without power. The outage was caused by a shutdown at one of Cuba's largest thermoelectric plants, the Antonio Guiteras plant located about 62 miles east of Havana. According to multiple reports, crews are working to repair a broken boiler and damaged pipe, with officials warning that it could take three to four days for power to be fully restored.

The blackout affected areas from Pinar del Rio in the west to Camaguey in central-eastern Cuba. As of Thursday morning, nearly 660,000 customers in Havana (77%) had power restored, along with 43 hospitals and 10 water supply stations. However, millions remain without electricity as crews work to reconnect circuits gradually.

The crisis is part of a broader struggle for Cuba's aging electric grid and intermittent fuel supplies. The situation has deepened in recent months due to halted key oil shipments from Venezuela after U.S. actions in early January and President Donald Trump's threat to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba.

Cuba's Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that the electrical system is operating 'in a limited capacity, prioritizing basic services, primarily health and water supply.' State media indicated that two power plants are offline due to a lack of petroleum. The U.S. Embassy in Cuba warned American citizens to prepare for significant disruptions and conserve resources.

The blackout has caused widespread disruption, with residents facing challenges such as spoiled food, heat, mosquitoes, and transportation issues. Some businesses have adapted by using solar panels or backup generators. This is the second major outage to hit western Cuba in three months, highlighting the ongoing energy crisis on the island.