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Cuba plunged into darkness on Monday as a widespread blackout affected the entire island, highlighting the nation’s ongoing energy crisis and fragile power infrastructure. Approximately 10 million residents were left without electricity before limited service was gradually restored in some regions.
The state-run Electric Union confirmed the blackout early Monday, describing it as a “total disconnection of the National Electric Power System” and stating that the cause was under investigation.
In recent years, Cuba has experienced increasingly frequent power outages due to chronic fuel shortages and aging electrical grids. The crisis has been exacerbated by U.S. sanctions imposed during the Trump administration, including tightened restrictions on oil imports to the island and threats of tariffs on countries supplying Cuba with fuel.
Monday’s blackout brought public transportation to a standstill and forced the cancellation of tens of thousands of surgeries nationwide, according to reports from The Associated Press.
Officials later announced that one generating unit resumed operation about two hours after the system failure. The Electric Union said microsystems had been activated across the country to protect essential services.
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy attributed the difficulties to the ongoing U.S. energy blockade, emphasizing efforts to restore power while safeguarding critical infrastructure. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel condemned U.S. policies, labeling the embargo a “genocidal” attempt to suffocate Cuba’s fuel supply. He praised the electrical workers for their “heroic” efforts amid these challenges.
The energy crisis worsened earlier this year after a U.S. operation led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and a halt to Venezuelan oil exports, cutting off a crucial fuel source for Cuba. Although the island produces about 40% of its fuel needs, a Russian tanker delivered approximately 730,000 barrels of oil in March-supplies that were exhausted by the end of April.
To manage the shortages, Cuba has implemented scheduled power outages, with some areas experiencing blackouts lasting more than 24 hours. Earlier in March, separate outages affected western provinces and later the entire country.
This latest blackout underscores the mounting challenges Cuba faces as it navigates an increasingly precarious energy landscape amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.