Partial electricity returns to Havana as authorities work to recover from third outage this month

Cuba has begun restoring electricity following a nationwide power grid collapse that left millions without power, marking the third such outage in recent weeks.

According to updates from the state-run Electric Union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines, restoration efforts were underway on Sunday, with approximately 72,000 customers in the capital Havana regaining electricity in the early hours. Among those reconnected were five hospitals, highlighting the priority given to critical infrastructure.

Despite this progress, the restored connections represent only a small portion of Havana’s population, which is estimated at around two million residents. Large parts of the city and other regions across the island remain without power as recovery efforts continue.

Cuba’s aging energy infrastructure has struggled to meet demand in recent years, leading to recurring outages and widespread disruptions. Fuel shortages, maintenance challenges, and increased pressure on the national grid have compounded the issue, leaving the system vulnerable to large-scale failures.

The repeated blackouts have placed additional strain on households, healthcare services, and the broader economy, prompting urgent calls for long-term energy reforms.

Authorities say restoration efforts are ongoing, but with much of the grid still offline, millions of Cubans remain affected as the country works to stabilize its energy system.