HAVANA (AP) — Cuba is grappling with a crippling energy crisis, marked by a third nationwide blackout this month, as its aging power grid buckles under the weight of infrastructure decay and a long-standing U.S. oil blockade. Saturday’s outage left the entire island without electricity, disrupting daily life for its 11 million residents.
The Cuban Electric Union reported the total blackout without specifying a cause, though authorities are working to restore power. These widespread outages have become increasingly common in the past two years, exacerbated by fuel shortages that lead to daily blackouts of up to 12 hours. Monday saw the country’s last nationwide blackout, and Saturday’s marks the second in just one week.
The impact on Cubans is significant. Reduced work hours, difficulties with cooking, and food spoilage due to non-functioning refrigerators are just some of the consequences.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that Cuba hasn’t received oil shipments from foreign suppliers in three months. The island nation currently produces only 40% of the fuel it needs to sustain its economy.
The crisis is further complicated by the U.S. policy toward Cuba. In January, former President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, linking any easing of sanctions to the release of political prisoners and a move toward political and economic liberalization. Trump also alluded to the possibility of a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”
The U.S. embassy in Havana recently requested permission to import fuel to power its own generators, a request that was denied by the Cuban government, according to reports. This situation highlights the widespread impact of the energy crisis, even affecting foreign diplomatic missions. An effective U.S. oil blockade has worsened the island’s energy crisis, according to the Washington Post. A Russian tanker may challenge the U.S. blockade, according to recent reports.