Officers in Cuba reported an island-wide blackout Monday within the nation of some 11 million individuals as its power and financial crises deepen. Cuba has blamed its woes on a U.S. power blockade after President Trump in January warned of tariffs on any nation that sells or offers oil to it.
The Ministry of Vitality and Mines on X famous a “full disconnection” of the nation’s electrical system and stated it was investigating. Officers have been implementing protocols to revive the system, the submit stated.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday stated the island had not obtained oil shipments in additional than three months and was working on solar energy, pure gasoline and thermoelectric crops, and the federal government has needed to postpone surgical procedures for tens of 1000’s of individuals.
A large outage over every week in the past affected the island’s west, leaving hundreds of thousands with out energy. In 2025, practically precisely a yr in the past, Cuba suffered a large outage in western Cuba.
YAMIL LAGE /AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Cuba has relied closely on overseas help and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia and Venezuela. However crucial oil shipments from Venezuela have been halted after the U.S. attacked the South American nation in early January and arrested its then-president, Nicolás Maduro.
Whereas Cuba produces 40% of its petroleum and has been producing its personal energy, it hasn’t been ample to fulfill demand as its electrical grid continues to crumble.
In latest days, movies circulating on social media have proven residents in Havana and different cities banging pots and pans in protest, CBS Information Miami reported. The standard type of public dissent often known as a “cacerolazo” displays rising frustration because the nation struggles with electrical energy outages, meals shortages, and deteriorating dwelling circumstances.
Blackouts have beforehand prompted anti-government demonstrations in 2021, 2022, and 2024.
On Friday, Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba was holding talks with the U.S. authorities as the issues proceed to deepen.
Earlier this yr, a U.S. official instructed CBS Information the Trump administration doesn’t search to set off a collapse of the Cuban authorities, however quite to barter with Havana to transition away from its authoritarian communist system.
