Additional Coverage:
Widespread Blackout Strikes Cuba Amid Fuel Shortages and Infrastructure Challenges
HAVANA – Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Monday as the island grapples with dwindling fuel supplies and a deteriorating electrical grid. The state-run Electric Union reported the outage on social media platform X, noting that the cause is currently under investigation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed that emergency protocols are in place to restore power.
The crisis deepened earlier this year following U.S. sanctions targeting countries supplying oil to Cuba, intensifying the nation’s existing economic and financial struggles. Since January, fuel shortages have severely disrupted public transportation and forced the cancellation of tens of thousands of medical procedures.
Cuba relies heavily on imports for its energy needs, producing only about 40% of its required fuel domestically. A shipment of 730,000 barrels of oil delivered by Russia in late March was depleted by the end of April, exacerbating the shortage.
In response, the government has implemented strict power rationing measures, with scheduled outages sometimes lasting over 24 hours. Recent blackouts have been widespread, including one affecting the eastern provinces in mid-May and a full island blackout in March, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing Cuba’s energy infrastructure.