Cuba Suffers Nationwide Blackout After Announcing Economic Reforms

Aging electrical grid collapses amid ongoing energy crisis, raising concerns about Cuba's ability to attract foreign investment.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:43pm

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Cuba was plunged into darkness by an island-wide electricity blackout that affected the entire 11 million people on Monday, just hours after the country said it would allow inward foreign investment for the first time. The blackout was the result of Cuba's ongoing energy crisis, with the country running on only about 40% of the fuel it needs due to a drop in oil prices and a U.S. blockade preventing oil tankers from entering Cuban waters.

Why it matters

The nationwide blackout raises serious questions about Cuba's ability to attract foreign investment and modernize its aging infrastructure, which is crucial for the country's economic reforms. It also highlights the daily hardships Cubans face due to the energy crisis, including spoiled food, dark hospitals, and prolonged power outages.

The details

The blackout affected the entire island, including the metropolitan area of Havana. Residents reported that power was only restored to about 5% of Havana by Monday night, with crews working to restart several thermoelectric plants. The blackout came just hours after Cuba announced it would open up to foreign investment for the first time, raising hopes for economic reforms. However, the U.S. trade embargo and Cuba's ongoing energy crisis pose significant challenges to implementing these changes.

  • The blackout occurred on Monday, March 17, 2026.
  • Power was only restored to about 5% of Havana by Monday night.

The players

Miguel Díaz-Canel

The President of Cuba, who announced that the country was running on only about 40% of the fuel it needs due to the drop in oil prices and U.S. blockade.

Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga

The Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba, who told NBC News that the country was now "open to having a fluid commercial relationship with U.S. companies".

Carlos Gimenez

A Republican Congressman from Florida who advised Cubans not to invest in Cuba, saying "you're wasting your time".

Dmitry Peskov

The Kremlin spokesman, who stated that Cuba is an "independent and sovereign state that faces significant economic difficulties due to the stifling embargo imposed on the country".

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What they’re saying

“It's very hard. What Cubans are going through is very hard.”

— Isabel Garcia, Havana resident

“This is an abuse. What will happen [is] it will be two or three days without electricity and what little we have to eat spoils. No one says anything and no one has any answers for anything.”

— Tomás David Valáquez

“If we don't have any change in political rights, if we don't have any political guarantees, then there is no economic that's possible. Freedom is being able to change your destiny. It's about Cuban sovereignty, not about business.”

— Agustín Garcia, Cuban exile (NBC News)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The nationwide blackout in Cuba highlights the country's ongoing energy crisis and the significant challenges it faces in modernizing its infrastructure and attracting foreign investment, even as it seeks to implement economic reforms. The blackout has exacerbated the daily hardships faced by Cubans, raising concerns about the government's ability to address the country's pressing issues.