Millions of people across Cuba were left without electricity on Saturday after the island’s national grid collapsed — the second nationwide outage in less than a week and the third this month. The incident underscored the country’s struggling, ageing power system and the growing effects of an oil blockade imposed by the United States.
State-run Union Eléctrica posted on social media: “At 18:32 (22:32 UTC), a total disconnection of the National Electric Power System occurred. We will continue to provide updates.” Authorities did not provide an immediate timeline for restoring service.
Widespread outages have become increasingly common over the past two years as Cuba’s generation capacity has deteriorated. Parts of the island already face daily blackouts of up to 20 hours because there is not enough fuel to run the economy; Cuba produces only about 40% of the fuel it needs.
The energy shortfall and the broader economic crisis deepened after January 3, when the United States effectively imposed an oil blockade following Washington’s removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — historically Cuba’s main ally and energy supplier. According to reports, no oil has been imported to Cuba since January 9, a disruption that has hit the power sector and the vital tourism industry, with airlines curtailing flights.
Washington and Havana trade blame for the crisis. The Cuban government points to the longstanding U.S. trade embargo and tighter restrictions as central causes of its economic and infrastructure problems. The U.S. government attributes the troubles to Cuba’s centrally planned economy and has tied any potential easing of sanctions to political concessions, including the release of political prisoners and steps toward economic and political liberalization.
The Trump administration publicly signaled support for a change of government in Cuba, and President Trump has even suggested the possibility of a “friendly takeover,” remarks that have heightened tensions between the two capitals.
The repeated nationwide disconnections highlight the scale of Cuba’s energy vulnerabilities and the urgent need for fuel and infrastructure investment to prevent further disruptions affecting households, hospitals, and the tourism sector.