Millions left without power as Cuba’s electricity grid collapses

Millions of Cubans have been plunged into darkness after the country’s national power grid collapsed on Monday, according to its electricity operator.

The outage is the latest in a series of widespread blackouts affecting the island, where persistent fuel shortages have been worsened by restrictions on oil supplies.

Officials said efforts were underway to gradually restore electricity across provinces and major cities.

Cuba, home to around 10 million people, has struggled with recurring power failures in recent years—an issue that has fuelled public frustration and sparked rare protests.

The country depends heavily on imported fuel, with Venezuela previously supplying a significant share of its needs. However, those shipments have been disrupted, further straining energy production.

Authorities confirmed that no oil deliveries have reached the island in the past three months, deepening the crisis.

The United States has increased pressure by intercepting oil shipments bound for Cuba and warning of potential penalties for countries supplying fuel to the island.

Meanwhile, recent comments from U.S. President Donald Trump suggested a hardline stance toward Cuba, even as reports indicate preliminary talks between both countries are underway to ease tensions.

Frequent outages driven by fuel shortages and an ageing power infrastructure have continued to disrupt daily life, with residents increasingly forced to adapt to prolonged periods without electricity.