**Cuba Faces Third Nationwide Blackout in Ten Days Amid Ongoing Energy Crisis**
Havana, Cuba – July 14, 2026 – Cuba's national power grid has once again collapsed, resulting in the third nationwide blackout within a span of just ten days. The outage, which began around 11 AM local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, has left approximately 10 million residents without electricity, according to the state-run electricity company, Unión Eléctrica (UNE).
The Ministry of Energy and Mines confirmed the total disconnection of the electrical system via social media, highlighting the severity of the situation. This latest blackout exacerbates an already critical energy crisis that has plagued the island, attributed largely to a combination of fuel shortages and an aging power infrastructure.
Cuba is currently grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, a situation that has been intensified by an oil blockade imposed by the United States. The blockade, initiated by former President Donald Trump in January, followed the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who had been a key supplier of subsidized oil to Cuba. Under the pressure of U.S. sanctions, Mexico has also ceased fuel shipments to the island, further straining Cuba's energy resources.
As of 2023, the International Energy Agency reported that Cuba was producing only about 40 percent of the oil it consumed, making the country heavily reliant on imports. The U.S. government maintains that the sanctions are designed to push Cuba's communist regime toward democratic reforms and the release of political prisoners.
The repeated blackouts have sparked significant public frustration, leading to protests in Havana where residents have expressed their discontent by banging pots and pans and chanting demands for electricity. Just last week, two separate blackouts had already left millions without power for over 24 hours, and the latest outage has only added to the growing unrest.
Cuban authorities have struggled to maintain a stable power supply, as the country's electricity grid is largely outdated, with much of it dating back to the 1960s and 1980s. The government has pointed to the U.S. blockade as a primary cause of the energy crisis, while U.S. officials argue that the responsibility lies with Cuba's leadership and their management of the power system.
During a recent debate at the UN General Assembly regarding U.S. sanctions, U.S. Ambassador Michael Waltz criticized the Cuban government, urging them to "change your ways and turn the lights back on for your people."
The situation in Cuba remains precarious, with the potential for further blackouts looming as the country continues to navigate the challenges posed by both external pressures and internal systemic issues. The ongoing energy crisis not only affects daily life for millions of Cubans but also poses significant challenges for the government as it seeks to address public discontent and stabilize the economy.