Cuba faced its second national power outage in less than a week on Saturday, March 21, due to an American oil tanker embargo. The country experienced a total blackout, with restoration efforts already underway, according to the Ministry of Energy.
This outage marks the seventh in over a year and a half, with the disconnect resulting from the shutdown of a unit in the Nuevita thermal power plant. Residents of Havana were plunged into darkness, relying on flashlights and mobile phones to navigate the city streets.
Local musicians continued to perform in some open restaurants using generators, while other establishments closed at sunset. Frustrated residents expressed their concerns, with one taxi driver questioning if they would have to live like this forever.
Cuba’s electricity production relies on an aging network of eight thermal power plants, some over 40 years old, facing frequent breakdowns. The government blames American sanctions for hindering infrastructure repairs and preventing adequate maintenance.
Since the interruption of oil deliveries from Venezuela, Cuba’s main supplier, the US administration under President Donald Trump has threatened to sanction any country sending oil to Cuba. Washington justifies this move citing Cuba’s geographical proximity and its perceived threat to US security, sparking tensions reminiscent of the Cold War era.
In response, Havana accuses Trump of economic suffocation through the longstanding embargo and increased sanctions. Economists also point out chronic underinvestment by the Cuban government in the electricity sector.
