Cuba’s Energy Crisis Worsens Amid Island-Wide Blackout

An island-wide blackout plunged Cuba into darkness on Monday, illustrating the country’s deepening energy crisis. The widespread outage affected approximately 10 million people, with some areas receiving limited electricity service eventually. The state-run Electric Union announced, “A total disconnection of the National Electric Power System is occurring,” while investigations into the cause were underway.

Cuba has been grappling with frequent power outages caused by fuel shortages and deteriorating electrical grids. These issues escalated after former President Donald Trump enacted additional sanctions and threatened tariffs on oil-supplying countries in January. The sanctions and travel bans have intensified Cuba’s energy crisis, leading to widespread disruptions.

During the blackout, public transport came to a halt, and tens of thousands of surgeries were reportedly canceled nationwide, according to the Associated Press. Authorities indicated that power resumed in some areas two hours after the system collapse, with “microsystems” operational to protect vital services.

Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy accused the U.S. of complicating Cuba’s energy challenges. He stated, “Vital services continue to be protected amidst this complex situation exacerbated by the energy blockade we face.” President Miguel Díaz-Canel also criticized U.S. policies, deeming the energy blockade a “genocidal” act by Washington. He expressed support for the Electric Union’s efforts to restore power, calling them heroic.

Earlier this year, Cuba’s energy problems intensified following a U.S. military operation that apprehended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, ceasing Venezuelan oil exports. With Cuba only producing about 40% of its fuel needs, it received 730,000 barrels of oil from a Russian tanker in March, which was consumed by April’s end.

The Cuban government has implemented scheduled outages to conserve fuel, lasting over 24 consecutive hours in some regions. March witnessed significant blackouts affecting western provinces and later engulfing the entire island in darkness.