SouthernWorldwide.com – Cuba was plunged into a nationwide blackout on Monday, marking the third major power failure this year as the country grapples with a worsening energy crisis that continues to strain its already fragile power infrastructure.
The extensive outage impacted approximately 10 million people. Limited electricity service has since been restored in some affected areas, according to reports.
Cuba’s state-run Electric Union confirmed the “total disconnection of the National Electric Power System” on Monday morning. An investigation into the causes of the blackout has been initiated.
In recent years, Cuba has experienced increasingly frequent power outages. This is largely due to persistent fuel shortages and the deteriorating condition of its electrical grids. The situation was further exacerbated in January when former President Donald Trump imposed additional sanctions and threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island.
During Monday’s widespread blackout, public transportation services were largely suspended. Officials also indicated that tens of thousands of surgeries scheduled nationwide had to be canceled, as reported by The Associated Press (AP).
Later, authorities announced that one generating unit had resumed operations approximately two hours after the system collapse. This allowed for the restoration of some power.
“Microsystems are already operational throughout the country, to ensure protection for vital services,” the Electric Union stated, aiming to reassure the public about critical infrastructure.
The energy minister attributed the ongoing energy struggles in Cuba, in part, to the United States. He stated that officials were actively working to restore power while simultaneously accusing the U.S. of exacerbating the situation.
“Vital services continue to be protected, amidst this complex situation exacerbated by the energy blockade we face,” said Vicente de la O Levy, the energy minister.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel also pointed to U.S. policies as a primary cause. He characterized the energy blockade as a “genocidal” measure imposed by Washington.
“While the U.S. tries to induce a social explosion through asphyxiation by blocking fuel access to #Cuba, the UNE mobilizes to reverse the SEN outage,” Díaz-Canel stated, referring to the National Electric Power System. He praised the efforts of electrical workers.
“What the electrical workers are doing in the midst of a genocidal energy blockade is heroic,” he added, highlighting the challenges faced by the country’s energy sector.
Cuba’s energy crisis had intensified earlier in the year following a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. This action led to the halting of Venezuelan oil exports, which had been a crucial source of fuel for the island nation.
Cuba produces only about 40% of the fuel it requires domestically. A Russian tanker delivered approximately 730,000 barrels of oil to the country in March, but these supplies were reportedly depleted by the end of April, according to AP.
In an effort to conserve fuel, the Cuban government has implemented scheduled power outages. In some regions, these outages have extended for more than 24 consecutive hours, further disrupting daily life.
This is not the first major blackout this year. A blackout in early March affected Cuba’s western provinces. Subsequently, a separate outage in mid-March plunged the entire island into darkness, underscoring the severity of the ongoing energy crisis.
