Cuba experienced its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year on Monday, according to the state electricity company, as a US oil blockade further strains the island's already fragile power supply.
Key facts
- Cuba suffered a nationwide power outage on Monday, its third since the start of the year.
- The blackout was confirmed by Cuba's state electricity company.
- The US, under President Donald Trump, imposed an oil blockade on Cuba in January.
- The blockade has depleted the dwindling fuel supply for Cuba's power plants.
- The island was already struggling to keep the lights on before the blockade.
Cuba on Monday suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of the year, the country’s state electricity company said, according to the Guardian.
The blackout is the latest sign of a deepening energy crisis on the island, which was already struggling to keep the lights on before the disruption.
According to the Guardian, the impoverished island’s difficulties have been compounded by an oil blockade imposed in January by US President Donald Trump. The measure has depleted the already dwindling supply of fuel that Cuba’s power plants rely on to generate electricity.
With three nationwide outages recorded in the space of six months, the reliability of Cuba’s electricity grid has come under sustained pressure. The state electricity company confirmed Monday’s failure, though the full duration and scale of the outage were not detailed in the reporting.
The recurring blackouts underline the extent to which Cuba’s power system depends on imported fuel, leaving it vulnerable to shortages when supplies are constrained.
Why it matters
Repeated nationwide blackouts disrupt daily life, hospitals, businesses and communications for millions of Cubans on an already impoverished island. The crisis also highlights how external measures such as the US oil blockade can intensify hardship in a country dependent on imported fuel to keep its power grid running.
Frequently asked questions
How many nationwide blackouts has Cuba had this year?
According to the Guardian, Monday's outage was Cuba's third nationwide power outage since the start of the year.
What is causing Cuba's power problems?
The island was already struggling to keep the lights on, and a US oil blockade imposed in January has depleted the already dwindling supply of fuel for Cuba's power plants, according to the Guardian.
Who imposed the oil blockade on Cuba?
The Guardian reports that US President Donald Trump imposed the oil blockade in January.