Cuba experiences second nationwide blackout in five days

Cuba’s national electricity grid has collapsed after a six‑month United States fuel blockade compounded an already aging energy infrastructure. Power outages have spread across the island, leaving many households and businesses without reliable electricity and forcing the government to ration supply and rely on emergency generators.

The blockade, which has halted the import of diesel and other fuels essential for running power plants, has exposed the fragility of Cuba’s power system. The country’s electricity network, built largely during the Soviet era, has long suffered from insufficient maintenance and outdated equipment. With fuel shortages persisting, operators have struggled to keep generators running, leading to widespread blackouts and a sharp decline in the grid’s capacity to meet demand.

In response, Cuban authorities have announced emergency measures, including the deployment of mobile generators and the prioritization of critical services such as hospitals and water treatment plants. The situation underscores the vulnerability of Cuba’s energy sector to external pressures and highlights the urgent need for infrastructure investment and diversified fuel sources.