Cuba Plunged into Darkness Again by Sixth National Blackout This Year

Cuba is grappling with its worst energy crisis in decades, marked by frequent and prolonged blackouts that are severely disrupting daily life. On Sunday night, the nation suffered its sixth nationwide power outage of the year, plunging the entire grid into darkness and underscoring the fragility of its energy infrastructure.

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Since Friday, I have only had an hour and a half of electricity, there is no water, there is nothing, what we Cubans are living is not life.

The state-run Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) reported a "total disconnection" of the national electrical system without specifying immediate causes. This marks the eleventh such general blackout since late 2024 and the sixth in the current year alone. Just 24 hours prior, five provinces experienced localized failures, leaving a significant portion of the country without power.

Residents are expressing deep frustration and exhaustion with the relentless power cuts. In Havana, electricity service has been intermittent, with some areas receiving only a few hours of power per day. For many, the outages extend for days, impacting access to water and basic necessities. "What we Cubans are living is not life," lamented Mayra Rodríguez, a 43-year-old accountant, describing sleepless nights with her children on their balcony due to the heat.

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No one says when the situation might improve. Meanwhile, we have to endure, not everyone has the money to buy panels.

Cuba blames Washington's oil blockade for the critical situation, arguing that U.S. sanctions hinder the supply of fuel essential for its aging thermoelectric plants. These plants, some over four decades old, frequently break down. The U.S., however, points to internal economic mismanagement. The scarcity of fuel, compounded by intensified sanctions against Cuban state companies, has reduced foreign currency inflows, further crippling the island's ability to import necessary resources and maintain its power grid.

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conversations with the United States 'show no progress'.