Overview
- Authorities report the national grid has been reconnected, with roughly 70% of Havana powered and smaller microsystems supplying vital services as deficits continue.
- The operator Unión Eléctrica says a fault in Unit 6 of the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant triggered a cascading disconnection across the system on March 21.
- Restart efforts are constrained because distributed diesel and fuel‑oil generators have lacked fuel since January, after petroleum imports largely halted.
- Multiple thermoelectric units were already out for breakdowns or maintenance, underscoring chronic underinvestment and the fragility of Cuba’s aging power fleet.
- Cuban officials blame U.S. measures restricting fuel flows, warn the military is preparing for a possible attack, and signal willingness to negotiate as outages disrupt hospitals, water services and daily life.