Cuba Faces Another Power Outage Amid U.S. Sanctions
Cubans are gradually seeing power restored after enduring the third nationwide power outage of the year. This energy crisis has been worsened by a U.S. fuel blockade, creating despair on the island. Even before President Trump’s cessation of oil supplies in January, Cuba was grappling with electricity issues. The state-run Union Electrica (UNE) announced a complete disconnection of power on Monday, affecting all 9.6 million residents. By Tuesday morning, power returned to over 30% of the capital, including critical facilities like 43 medical centers and nine water distribution installations.
The blackout is the eighth since late 2024. The restoration process is hampered by a limited fuel supply, according to Lazaro Guerra from the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel attributed this situation to U.S. sanctions and criticized them for triggering social unrest by restricting Cuba’s fuel access. Despite these challenges, UNE is working to restore the National Electric System.
The situation is dire, with the state initiating severe power cuts to ration fuel. In some parts of Havana, outages last over 30 hours, while rural areas experience over 70 hours without electricity. Residents like Meyboll Font, a social media community manager, report surviving on a few hours of power daily and describe the unpredictability of these outages as agonizing. A software programmer in Havana noted the impact on work due to the lack of electricity and WiFi.
Power cuts are a longstanding issue in Cuba, where outdated Soviet-era power plants are failing. The frequency of these outages has increased since the blockade restricted fuel supplies further. The U.S. has limited oil shipments to Cuba as part of a strategy to disrupt the communist regime akin to the situation in Venezuela.
Cuba’s government insists its political model will not change and is prepared to defend against any invasions. The U.S. blockade, alongside numerous sanctions, is pushing the country towards further collapse. Food, water, and medical shortages are worsening, earning concerns of a humanitarian crisis from the United Nations. Transportation on the island has almost ceased.
Recently, Cuba announced economic reforms aimed at reducing state control, but these were dismissed by the U.S. State Department as insignificant. Talks between the two nations remain stalled, with no progress in sight. Meanwhile, Cuba accuses the U.S. of blocking discussions at the United Nations regarding oil sanctions.