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Cuba's Power Grid Collapses Again, Leading to Widespread Blackouts Amid Fuel Crisis
Cuba Plunges into Darkness Again After Power Grid Collapse
Cuba's power grid collapsed on Saturday, leaving the entire country without electricity for the second time in a week. As night fell, Havana's streets were mostly pitch black, with residents seen navigating dark streets using phone lights or flashlights. In the tourist-heavy old city, some restaurants remained open thanks to generators, but most citizens experienced significant inconvenience. This widespread blackout occurs as the Cuban government struggles with decaying infrastructure and a US-imposed oil blockade.
Fuel Shortages and 'Cascading Effect' Worsen Crisis
The state-owned Cuban Electric Union attributed the total disconnection of the national electricity system to an outage in a power unit at one of the country's thermoelectric plants, causing a 'cascading effect'. Regular blackouts, often lasting up to 12 hours, have already made life more difficult for Cubans, primarily due to fuel shortages that destabilize the system. Cuba, which produces less than 40% of the fuel it needs, faces an aging grid that has drastically eroded in recent years. The company stated it is activating microgrids to provide power to critical facilities, including hospitals and water treatment plants.
Cuba Seeks 'Serious Dialogue' with US Amid Blockade
The Cuban government has blamed the outages on a US energy blockade. US President Donald Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, and on one occasion, suggested a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the island has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. Meanwhile, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez indicated that Havana would be open to a 'serious and responsible dialogue' with the US, but emphasized that it would be without any interference in internal affairs.
*Source: YouTube: WION (2026-03-22)*
