Cuba's national electrical grid collapsed late Sunday, plunging the island nation of approximately 10 million people into darkness, according to the state-owned grid operator. This marks the latest in a series of increasingly frequent blackouts that have affected the country.
The Union Electrica de Cuba, the state electricity company, provided no further details regarding the cause of the collapse in its public statements. The outage follows three nationwide blackouts that occurred in July.
This deepening energy crisis is occurring as Cuba struggles to secure essential fuel imports, a situation exacerbated by a U.S.-imposed oil blockade. The blockade, initiated by former President Donald Trump following the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January 2026, has significantly strained Cuba's aging energy infrastructure. Venezuela had been Cuba's primary oil supplier, and reduced imports from Mexico, also impacted by increased U.S. pressure, have further compounded the fuel shortage.
The power crisis coincides with a cautious opening of Cuba's energy sector. Facing severe U.S. sanctions and persistent fuel shortages, Havana has recently authorized its first foreign-backed fuel import venture and permitted nearly 200 Cuban businesses to participate in wholesale fuel distribution. However, these measures have not yet stabilized the nation's power supply.