Cuba is going dark under US pressure. How the crisis unfolded and why its troubles are far from over

Cuba is going dark under US pressure. How the crisis unfolded and why its troubles are far from over

Three months into the US-led oil embargo on Cuba, the nation’s energy crisis has intensified, leading to widespread societal disruptions. Streets in Havana now face accumulated waste, hospital operations are restricted, households rely on wood for heating, and power outages are frequent. President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted the challenges during a televised press conference, stating that officials are actively working on solutions but recognizing the complexity of the situation.

The US has enforced an economic embargo on Cuba since the 1960s, costing the island “trillions of dollars” and hindering its “overall human development,” as noted by a United Nations report. Despite global appeals to ease sanctions, the US has escalated pressure on the communist regime. In early January, the country’s primary oil supplier, Venezuela, was cut off after the US conducted a military operation to capture its leader, prompting the acting government to pause deliveries.

Following that, Cuba lost access to oil from other sources, including Mexico, after the US threatened additional tariffs. The rationale provided by Washington was that Havana posed an “extraordinary threat” through alliances with “hostile countries and malign actors,” as well as hosting their military and intelligence operations. Cuba rejected these claims. The oil shortage, critical for vehicles and electricity generation, has worsened the nation’s energy shortfall.

Power outages, already common in Cuba, have become more severe since the blockade began. Díaz-Canel reported that service interruptions are increasing, with plants unable to operate due to insufficient fuel. On March 18, the island experienced its first nationwide blackout in years, marking a significant escalation. The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH) president, Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, mentioned that the energy crisis is also impacting water distribution, with efforts to install solar panels aimed at reducing reliance on the grid.

Cuba’s government claims it is addressing the oil shortage by boosting domestic production. CNN has contacted INRH and the Aguas de La Habana company for updates on mitigating the damage. Beyond energy and water, the fuel crisis is straining education, transport, and healthcare. Díaz-Canel noted that thousands are awaiting medical procedures delayed by power shortages.

“The humanitarian situation in Cuba was already extremely fragile, but the electricity crisis is pushing many essential services to the limit,” Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, stated in a recent statement to CNN. “People don’t have reliable access to drinking water, hospitals can’t operate safely, basic goods are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, and garbage is piling up in the streets.”

Public protests, uncommon in Cuba, have emerged in response to the crisis. On March 7, residents in Havana neighborhoods gathered to vent frustration through banging pots and lighting bonfires. Days later, students at the University of Havana demonstrated peacefully, citing disrupted studies due to power and internet outages. In Morón, a weekend protest led to partial damage to the Communist Party’s local headquarters. Authorities stated five individuals were detained, linking the demonstrations to energy and food supply issues.