Cuba’s power grid collapses for a second time, extending blackouts across the country

Cuba’s power went out again early Saturday morning, state media reported, knocking out the entire country for the second time just hours after authorities announced they had begun restoring power.

CubaDebate, one of the island’s non-government media outlets, said Cuba’s electricity company, UNE, reported at 6:15 a.m. ET “a complete shutdown of the national electro-energetic system.”

“The Electric Union is working on its re-establishment,” the short message said.

Cuba’s power grid began to collapse midday Friday after one of the island’s largest power plants failed, suddenly leaving more than 10 million people without power.

On Friday evening, several Canadian companies that bring tourists to Cuba, including Air Transat and Sunwing, said the exit was not a problem for their operations.

Air Canada, in an emailed statement Saturday morning, said airports and hotels have been running on generators since the outage began. “We have no flight to and from Cuba today,” he said.

Global Affairs Canada said it is “closely monitoring” the situation and will provide consular assistance to Canadians who need it.

Workers, students have been sent back to their homes

Even before the grid collapse, power shortages on Friday forced Cuba’s communist-run government to send non-essential government workers home and cancel school classes for children as it seeks to save fuel for production.

But the lights started flashing in pockets scattered across the island on Friday evening, giving hope that power will return.

The grid operator has not released details on what caused the grid to go down again on Saturday, or how long it will take to restore service.

The Cuban government has blamed widespread power outages for weeks – often 10 to 20 hours a day across much of the island – on crumbling infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand.

Delivery of a complex fuel storm

Strong winds that began with Hurricane Milton last week have made it difficult for the island to bring in scarce fuel from offshore boats to power its power plants, officials said.

Fuel deliveries to the island have fallen sharply this year, as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, once major suppliers, have reduced their shipments to Cuba.

Key ally Venezuela has halved its supply of subsidized fuel to Cuba this year, forcing the island to look elsewhere for more expensive oil.

The Cuban government also blamed the US trade embargo, as well as sanctions under then-President Donald Trump, for continued difficulties in obtaining fuel and equipment to operate and maintain its oil production plants.

The United States on Friday denied any involvement in the collapse of the grid in Cuba.