Cuba Faces Major Electricity Grid Failure Amid Fuel Shortages

Cuba’s electricity grid experienced a significant collapse late on Sunday, according to the state-owned grid operator. This failure left the island of approximately 10 million people in darkness. The frequency of blackouts on the island has risen, with three nationwide outages occurring in July.

This latest power outage intensifies the strain on Cuba’s aging energy infrastructure, which is already pressured by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade. The Union Electrica de Cuba, responsible for the grid, provided no additional details about the incident in its social media updates.

The island’s power system faces growing challenges as Cuba struggles to secure fuel imports. The situation worsened after losing a crucial fuel source due to the oil blockade enforced by former U.S. President Donald Trump. This followed the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by Washington on January 3.

Venezuela had been a primary supplier of oil to Cuba, alongside imports from Mexico, which also halted amid increased U.S. pressures. The energy crisis coincides with attempts to cautiously reform Cuba’s tightly regulated energy sector.

Recent developments include Havana authorizing its first foreign-backed fuel import venture. Additionally, nearly 200 Cuban businesses have been approved to engage in wholesale fuel distribution, reflecting efforts to address the severe fuel shortages exacerbated by U.S. sanctions.