Cuba suffered its third nationwide power outage since the start of 2026 on Monday, after the national electricity generation system completely disconnected.
The state-owned utility, Union Electrica (UNE), reported the total grid collapse on X and said it is investigating the cause.
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This marks the eighth major blackout on the island of 9.6 million people since late 2024.
The infrastructure failure stems from acute fuel shortages, exacerbated by a United States oil blockade imposed in January, according to The Guardian.
To manage diminishing fuel reserves, the Cuban government has implemented severe electricity rationing.
Power cuts have lasted over 24 hours in parts of Havana and exceeded 70 hours in rural areas.
The island's power infrastructure relies primarily on deteriorating, Soviet-era power plants that have faced chronic maintenance issues for years.
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The situation worsened after Washington restricted maritime energy shipments, permitting only a single Russian oil tanker to dock in Cuba since the January blockade took effect.
In addition to fuel restrictions, comprehensive US sanctions targeting the Cuban government and its foreign business partners have pushed the local economy toward total collapse.
The United Nations has warned of an impending humanitarian emergency due to severe shortages of food, drinking water, and vital medicines.
To mitigate the ongoing energy crisis, the Cuban government has accelerated investments in renewable energy infrastructure.
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However, solar power currently accounts for only 10 percent of the nation's total energy mix.
