Cuba hit by second island-wide blackout in a week

Cuba Hit by Second Island-Wide Blackout in a Week

Cuba’s electricity network faced another collapse this month, plunging millions into darkness for the second time in just over a week. The nation’s power grid shut down completely on Saturday, marking the third such nationwide outage in recent weeks. This crisis has deepened as the country grapples with a severe energy shortfall, worsened by ongoing restrictions on oil imports from the United States.

Union Electrica, the state-run energy authority, confirmed the blackout in a social media update, stating that the National Electric Power System disconnected entirely at 18:32 local time. The statement emphasized that further updates would follow. Such disruptions are now routine in Cuba, with the aging electricity generation system failing to meet demand over the past two years.

US Blockade and Fuel Shortages

The energy crisis has been compounded by the US-imposed oil blockade, which has cut off critical fuel supplies since January 9. Cuba relies on imported oil to sustain its economy, yet it produces only 40% of the fuel required. This shortage has led to daily blackouts lasting up to 20 hours in certain regions, straining both infrastructure and daily life.

US President Donald Trump intensified the situation by maintaining a de facto oil embargo after removing Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro from diplomatic engagement. Maduro, Cuba’s key energy partner, had been a major supplier of oil before his ouster. The blockade has disrupted not only power generation but also the tourism sector, as airlines face flight reductions due to energy constraints.

“At 18:32 (2232 UTC), a total disconnection of the National Electric Power System occurred. We will continue to provide updates,” Union Electrica stated on social media.

Cuba accuses the US of perpetuating its economic struggles through the embargo, while Washington attributes the failures to Havana’s rigid command economy. The Trump administration has demanded political reforms, including the release of prisoners and economic liberalization, in exchange for lifting sanctions. Additionally, it has hinted at the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of the island, reflecting its broader goal of regime change.