HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s power grid collapsed Saturday, leaving the country without electricity for a third time in March as the communist government contends with a decaying infrastructure and a U.S.-imposed oil blockade.
The Cuban Electric Union, reporting to the Ministry of Energy and Mines, announced a total blackout across the island without initially stating the cause. The union later attributed the outage to an unexpected failure of a generating unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey province.
According to a report from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, a “cascading effect” occurred after the initial failure, impacting online machines. Authorities activated “micro-islands” of generating units to provide power to vital centers, hospitals and water systems.
Power outages have become increasingly common in Cuba over the past two years, linked to breakdowns in the aging infrastructure. These breakdowns are exacerbated by fuel shortages, resulting in daily blackouts of up to 12 hours that further destabilize the system. The last nationwide blackout occurred on Monday.
The blackouts significantly impact the population, disrupting work hours, hindering cooking, and causing food spoilage. Hospitals have even been forced to cancel surgeries.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated the island has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. The government also attributes the outages to a U.S. Energy blockade. U.S. President Donald Trump warned in January of tariffs on any country selling oil to Cuba, demanding the release of political prisoners and political/economic liberalization in return for lifting sanctions. Trump also suggested a “friendly takeover of Cuba.”
The halting of critical petroleum shipments from Venezuela, following the removal of its leader, has also contributed to Cuba’s oil struggles. Trump has repeatedly suggested the Cuban government is nearing collapse, even stating after a previous grid collapse that he believed he would soon have “the honor of taking Cuba.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the latest blackout?
The Cuban Electric Union reported the blackout was caused by an unexpected failure of a generating unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey province.
How often are blackouts occurring in Cuba?
Power outages have become relatively common in the last two years. Saturday’s outage was the second in the past week and the third in March. The last nationwide blackout occurred on Monday.
What is the U.S. Role in Cuba’s energy crisis, according to the Cuban government?
The Cuban government blames the outages on a U.S.-imposed energy blockade, and President Trump warned of tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.
As Cuba faces repeated disruptions to its power supply, what long-term solutions might address the underlying issues of infrastructure and energy dependence?
