Cuba blames U.S. sanctions for nationwide power grid failures

Cuba blames U.S. sanctions for nationwide power grid failures
The cityscape of Havana as Cuba scrambles to reconnect its national electrical grid following a nationwide blackout, in Havana, Cuba, 4 August 2026.
Reuters
By Nazrin Azizli , Anadolu
August 5, 2026 10:56
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Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla has blamed the U.S. embargo for the country's repeated nationwide electricity outages.

"The disconnections of the national electric system (SEN) are direct consequences of the genocidal blockade of the United States against #Cuba, in particular of the energy siege," Parrilla said on X.

He added that the restrictions not only limit fuel imports but also prevent the entry of spare parts needed to maintain the SEN, hinder cooperation with foreign experts and restrict access to international financing.

Repeated blackouts deepen pressure on Cuba

The comments came after another nationwide power grid collapse, the latest in a series of major outages that have affected the island in recent months.

The recurring blackouts have disrupted households, businesses and public services across the Caribbean island of around 10 million people, worsening existing shortages of food, fuel and medicine amid a prolonged economic downturn.

A man walks down a dark street as Cuba's electricity grid collapsed late on Sunday, plunging the island of about 10 million people into darkness as blackouts become more frequent, in Havana, Cuba, 3 August 2026.
Reuters

The electricity crisis has also intensified diplomatic tensions between Havana and Washington.

Cuba has blamed decades of U.S. sanctions and trade restrictions for limiting access to fuel, financing and critical equipment, while the U.S. has attributed the outages to failures within Cuba’s state-run economic system.

U.S. Embassy issues warning over disruptions

The U.S. Embassy in Havana on Monday advised U.S. citizens in Cuba and those planning to travel to the island to prepare for widespread disruptions, including possible cellphone and internet outages.

“Cuba’s electrical grid is increasingly unstable,” the embassy said, noting that the latest blackout marked the sixth total grid failure in 2026, with three occurring in July alone.

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Cuba Power Outages energy crisis U.S. Sanctions Havana Caribbean energy security
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