Cuba Experiences Blackouts and Protests Amid Power Outages Nationwide

Cuba Experiences Widespread Power Outages Amid Fuel Shortage

A nationwide electricity shutdown affected large parts of eastern Cuba on Thursday, with fuel reserves reportedly depleted by the country’s communist government. The Energy Minister, Vicente de la O Levy, stated that Cuba has no fuel, oil, and diesel, but does have gas from its own wells and domestic crude oil production.

The situation is tense, with the impact of US sanctions causing significant harm to the island’s energy system. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the crisis on US sanctions, stating that the country will face a deficit of over 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours. He also mentioned that around 1,100 megawatts of power generation had been lost due to fuel shortages.

Protests broke out in neighbourhoods across Havana, with residents expressing frustration over the power cuts. Demonstrators were heard banging pots and pans on Wednesday evening, while others chanted slogans such as “Turn on the lights!” The protests are part of a series of nationwide blackouts that have affected Cuba since 2024.

The island’s energy crisis worsened in January after the US tightened restrictions on fuel shipments to Cuba. Since then, only one Russian tanker has reportedly reached the island. Cubans have endured repeated power outages and soaring fuel prices amid the deepening crisis.

Cuba’s electricity system relies on eight ageing thermoelectric plants that frequently break down or require maintenance. The country is exploring alternative energy sources, including solar energy, to mitigate the impact of the crisis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has renewed an offer of $100m in aid for Cuba, but only if it is distributed through the Catholic Church rather than the Cuban government.

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has expressed cautious openness to discussions about the aid proposal, while US President Donald Trump has suggested that Cuba could become a target of US efforts to force political change on the island.

Source: Al Jazeera