Cuba suffers second island-wide blackout in a week amid Trump fuel blockade
Cuba has reported its second nationwide blackout in less than a week, plunging the island into darkness shortly before evening. The outage began at 4:30pm local time and follows a similar power failure on Monday.
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Cuba has experienced its second island-wide blackout in a week, with the outage beginning at 4:30pm local time. The blackout follows a similar power failure on Monday and brings the total number of island-wide outages to four since the start of the year.
Cuba is having a big problem with its electricity. The country is running out of fuel, which is needed to make electricity. This is causing blackouts, or when the power goes out. It's like when you're playing with your friends and the power goes out in your house. But for Cuba, it's a big deal because it affects a lot of people, especially the ones who are sick or need help. The country is trying to fix this problem by using more solar power, which is like using the sun's energy to make electricity. But it's hard to do this when you don't have enough fuel.
Analysis
A Perfect Storm of Crisis: Cuba's Fuel Blockade and Blackouts
Cuba's second island-wide blackout in a week is a stark reminder of the country's dire energy crisis. The outage, which began at 4:30pm local time, is the fourth such incident since the start of the year, with two other total blackouts striking in March. The problem has intensified since January, when United States President Donald Trump effectively severed Cuba's supply of foreign oil. Trump's administration has continued to control Venezuelan oil exports, which has resulted in only a single Russian oil tanker reaching Cuban soil since January. As a result, Cuba has been forced to rely on its own oil production, which accounts for only 40 percent of its energy needs. The rest comes from overseas, making the country vulnerable to disruptions in global oil supplies. The fuel blockade has severe consequences for Cuba's civilian population, particularly the most vulnerable. Public services like transportation have shut down, and infant mortality has nearly doubled in recent months. The high commissioner for human rights at the United Nations, Volker Turk, has pointed to these statistics, stating that the fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions are directly harming Cubans. The Trump administration, however, has blamed mismanagement in the Cuban government for the blackouts. Cuba has planned to shift some of its energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels, in favour of solar and other renewable energy sources. It has sped up this transition, with the help of solar technology imported from China. Still, renewable energy only accounts for about 18 percent of Cuba's overall energy consumption, according to estimates from 2022. Cuba aims to produce nearly a quarter of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. The country's energy crisis is a complex issue, with multiple factors contributing to the problem. The fuel blockade, however, is a significant contributor to the crisis, and its consequences will be felt for years to come.
The Human Cost of the Fuel Blockade
The fuel blockade has severe consequences for Cuba's civilian population, particularly the most vulnerable. Public services like transportation have shut down, and infant mortality has nearly doubled in recent months. The high commissioner for human rights at the United Nations, Volker Turk, has pointed to these statistics, stating that the fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and recent tightening of extraterritorial sanctions are directly harming Cubans. The Trump administration, however, has blamed mismanagement in the Cuban government for the blackouts. The fuel blockade has resulted in a shortage of essential medical supplies and medicines, leading to the deaths of children. This is unacceptable, and the international community must take action to address this crisis.
Cuba's Renewable Energy Transition
Cuba has planned to shift some of its energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels, in favour of solar and other renewable energy sources. It has sped up this transition, with the help of solar technology imported from China. Still, renewable energy only accounts for about 18 percent of Cuba's overall energy consumption, according to estimates from 2022. Cuba aims to produce nearly a quarter of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. The country's renewable energy transition is a positive step towards reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. However, the fuel blockade has hindered this transition, making it more challenging for Cuba to achieve its renewable energy goals.
Key points
- Cuba has experienced its second island-wide blackout in a week, with the outage beginning at 4:30pm local time.
- The blackout follows a similar power failure on Monday and brings the total number of island-wide outages to four since the start of the year.
- The fuel blockade, imposed by the Trump administration, has resulted in a shortage of essential medical supplies and medicines, leading to the deaths of children.
- Cuba has planned to shift some of its energy infrastructure away from fossil fuels, in favour of solar and other renewable energy sources.
- The country aims to produce nearly a quarter of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.
If the fuel blockade is lifted, Cuba can focus on developing its renewable energy sources, which could lead to a reduction in blackouts and a more stable energy supply. Additionally, the country's planned shift towards solar and other renewable energy sources could help to mitigate the effects of the fuel blockade.
If the fuel blockade continues, Cuba's energy crisis could worsen, leading to more frequent and prolonged blackouts. This could have severe consequences for the country's civilian population, particularly the most vulnerable, and could hinder the country's ability to achieve its renewable energy goals.
