Cuba is facing severe blackouts across its eastern provinces after a major failure in its aging power grid on May 14, according to multiple reports. The collapse stripped power from all eastern provinces from Guantánamo to Ciego de Ávila, as reported by the state-run Electric Union and confirmed by several outlets including NPR and PBS. Residents in Havana have faced ongoing blackouts, with some areas experiencing up to 24 consecutive hours without electricity.
Key Takeaways
Cuba is experiencing severe blackouts across its eastern provinces due to a major failure in its aging power grid. The energy crisis has been exacerbated by a U.S. blockade that has cut off fuel supplies, leading to protests and reduced work hours.
- Cuba's national energy grid suffered a major failure on May 14, severing power to the island's eastern provinces.
- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the energy situation as 'tense' after oil supplies from Russia ran out.
- Protests broke out in Havana with residents banging pots and pans, blocking roads with burning piles of rubbish.
- The U.S. has offered $100 million in aid but Cuba is wary of Trump's motives and the ongoing blockade.
The energy crisis has been exacerbated by a U.S. blockade that has strangled the island of fuel. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the energy situation as 'tense' after supplies of oil delivered by a Russian vessel in late March ran out, according to NPR. The country produces only 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy.
Protests broke out across Havana on May 13 and continued into May 14, with hundreds of angry Cubans pouring onto the streets. Residents blocked roads with burning piles of rubbish, banged pots, and shouted 'Turn on the lights!' as reported by Reuters, HuffPost, and other outlets. The shortages and blackouts have dramatically worsened since January when U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an embargo and threatened tariffs on any nation supplying Cuba with fuel.
The Cuban government has blamed the outages on U.S. sanctions, which were tightened by the Trump administration in January. The blackouts have led to reduced work hours, food spoilage, and canceled surgeries in hospitals. The United Nations last week called Trump's fuel blockade unlawful, saying it had obstructed the 'Cuban people’s right to development while undermining their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation.'
In a related development, the U.S. is taking steps to indict Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel, according to CBS News. The potential indictment focuses on Cuba's deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue. Additionally, CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana for a rare meeting with senior Cuban officials, including Raúl Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro.
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