Wednesday brought widespread electrical failures across Cuba, leaving the capital city of Havana and most other regions without power, according to the nation’s electricity workers union UNE. The outage occurred as the island’s communist leadership continues dealing with mounting pressure from the Trump administration.
The Caribbean nation has endured multiple large-scale electrical failures in recent years, predating the current halt in U.S. oil deliveries to the island.
Cuban officials have blamed their nation’s economic struggles on decades of American economic sanctions.
Recent shortages of petroleum from Venezuela and Mexico, stemming from U.S. diplomatic pressure, have made existing supply problems even worse.
According to UNE officials, crews are actively working to bring power back online, with the electrical failure spanning from Camaguey province in the center of the island westward to Pinar del Rio.
Cuba’s energy ministry reported that the Felton 1 thermal power facility in eastern Holguin province continues operating, and emergency restoration procedures have begun.
Venezuela, which serves as Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, has not delivered oil shipments since December. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was taken during a U.S. operation in the capital in early January, after which American forces have overseen the country’s oil export operations.
Mexican officials announced they would stop their oil deliveries following U.S. threats of tariffs against nations providing petroleum to Cuba.
The electrical disruptions have forced the government to limit essential services.
