Cuba state energy firm reports new nationwide blackout as US embargo continues

By Gavin Blackburn Published on 03/08/2026 - 9:38 GMT+2 Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp The power cuts have made normal life almost impossible, with each outage also meaning that water supplies trickle away and ceiling fans slow to a halt. Cuba's power grid failed on Sunday, causing another nationwide blackout, a state energy company said in a social media post. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT As the lights suddenly turned off across the capital Havana, residents who were sat outside to get some respite from the summer heat audibly groaned en masse. Cuba has been suffering rolling power cuts due to ageing equipment and a US energy embargo that halted regular deliveries of fuel for power stations. State-run UNE said there was a "total disconnection" of the national electricity system, plunging the country, including the capital, into abrupt darkness. This is just the latest in a series of total collapses of the electricity grid. Just 24 hours ago, the whole west of the country went dark. The power cuts have made normal life almost impossible, with each outage also meaning that water supplies trickle away and ceiling fans slow to a halt. Men sit on a car during a blackout in Havana, 14 July, 2026 AP Photo It is a growing strain for a society used to adversity but now stuck in a months-long crisis that has no obvious end in sight. Residents in the worst-affected areas have vented their frustrations by setting piles on trash on fire or banging on pots and pans. The Ministry of Energy said that protocols to reactivate the grid were underway. Washington has authorised the arrival of only one Russian tanker, carrying 100,000 tons of crude, which came in March. Those reserves have since been exhausted. In addition to enacting an oil blockade, the Trump administration has ramped up sanctions against Cuban state-owned businesses, prompting many foreign firms to suspend operations in the country. Related Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel admits 'urgent changes' needed to overcome crisisUS slaps sanctions on Cuba's oil and gas company, accusing it of weaponising energy The United States has also indicted former president Raúl Castro, brother of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, over the downing of two civilian planes three decades ago. Talks between Havana and Washington appear to have made little in the way of progress. Havana has enacted a series of free-market reforms to give the economy a boost. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Add Euronews on Google Read more Cuba plunged into third nationwide blackout in two weeks as power grid collapses 'We will deal with it,' Trump says as US probes reports of Iranian drones in Cuba Italy's poorest region relies on Cuban doctors despite US pressure to cut ties Donald Trump Cuban politics Cuba blackout Embargo United States