Power back in Cuba after latest blackout amid oil blockade

HAVANA — Cuba has restored its power grid, authorities said on Wednesday, after the third total blackout in less than 10 days as the island faces an energy crisis amid a US oil blockade.

The island was already struggling to keep the lights on before US President Donald Trump cut off its oil supplies in January, depleting the dwindling supply of fuel for its power plants.

The national power grid went offline at about 11:05 am on Tuesday, according to the state-run Cuban Electric Union electricity company, or UNE, leaving the country's 9.6 million inhabitants without power.

The island's electrical system was fully functioning at 7:00 am on Wednesday, the UNE reported.

UNE said a problem with a generating unit at a thermoelectric plant caused a "sudden frequency change", resulting in the blackout.

It was the third complete blackout on the Caribbean island since early July and the fifth since the start of 2026.

"I have no words," Maria Caridad Alvarez, a 62-year-old housewife, told AFP. "When I woke up this morning, the power was back and I cooked some beans. Now, I went out and it's off again."

David Matias Rodriguez, an 82-year-old retiree, said he was worried the few things in his refrigerator would be spoiled.

In both of last week's blackouts, it took more than 24 hours to restore power across the island, a process made slower and more complex by fuel shortages.

Power outages in the capital Havana totaled more than 30 hours at a time, while in the outlying provinces, it was several days before electricity was restored.

Residents in the worst-affected areas have vented their frustrations by setting piles of trash on fire or banging on pots and pans.

US sanctions

Affected by US sanctions, Cuba has long struggled to import fuel and equipment needed to repair its severely aging power plants, leaving the country's electricity supply strained.

Since October 2024, Cuba has experienced several nationwide blackouts due to power facility failures, hurricanes and other factors.

"This situation is mainly due to the state of our electrical system, exacerbated by the decisions of the United States," Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy said on Tuesday at a news conference.

"We are practically living through a war," he said, adding that there is a "total absence of fuel" and the government cannot obtain spare parts for its plants.

Relations between Washington and Havana have been tense since the start of the year.

Washington has authorized the arrival of only one Russian tanker, carrying 100,000 metric tons of crude, which came in March. Those reserves have since been exhausted.

In addition to its oil blockade, the US administration has ramped up sanctions against Cuban state-owned businesses, prompting many foreign businesses to suspend operations in the country.

The United States has also indicted former president Raul Castro, brother of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, over the downing of two civilian planes three decades ago.

Late last month, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said "no progress" had been made in months of bilateral discussions.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA