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
Nearly three months have passed since the United States initiated an oil embargo on Cuba, deepening its energy shortfall. This shortage is now manifesting across the country, from accumulating trash on Havana’s streets to reduced medical procedures and reliance on wood fires for heating. President Miguel Díaz-Canel highlighted these challenges during a national broadcast on Friday, emphasizing that authorities are actively seeking resolutions but admitted the effort would be complex.
Since 1960, the US has enforced economic sanctions on Cuba, a policy the UN described as costing the island “trillions of dollars” and undermining its “overall human development.” Despite international appeals to ease these restrictions, the US has intensified pressure on the communist government. In January, the US severed ties with Venezuela, Cuba’s primary oil supplier, following a military operation that captured its president and halted shipments. Soon after, other suppliers like Mexico were pressured into halting deliveries, with the US citing Havana’s alignment with “hostile countries and malign actors” as a justification.
Without sufficient oil, Cuba struggles to power vehicles and generate electricity, worsening its long-standing energy crisis. Díaz-Canel noted that prolonged outages, already a regular occurrence, have grown more severe in the early months of the year. Power plants now operate at reduced capacity due to fuel shortages, leading to frequent service disruptions. Recently, Cuba experienced its first nationwide blackout since the oil embargo was enforced.
Impact on critical services
Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez, head of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH), warned that the fuel shortage is also disrupting water supply. The institute is exploring alternatives like solar panels to lessen dependence on the electrical grid. Meanwhile, the Cuban government claims it is boosting domestic oil production to ease the crisis. CNN has contacted INRH and the Aguas de La Habana utility for updates on mitigation efforts.
Shortages are stretching beyond energy and water, affecting education, transportation, and healthcare. Díaz-Canel reported that “tens of thousands” of Cubans are awaiting surgeries delayed by electricity cuts. In Havana, garbage trucks lack fuel, causing waste to pile up on streets. Public transit has also been reduced, with long queues forming at stations and overcrowded buses becoming the norm.
“The humanitarian situation in Cuba was already extremely fragile, but the electricity crisis is pushing many essential services to the limit,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “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.”
Protests have emerged as a response to the crisis, marking a rare event in Cuba. On March 7, residents in parts of Havana demonstrated by striking pots and pans and lighting fires. Days later, students gathered peacefully near the University of Havana, citing the lack of power and internet as barriers to their studies. A new protest erupted in Morón on Saturday, where demonstrators partially damaged the Communist Party’s local headquarters. Five individuals were arrested, with authorities linking the event to energy and food access issues.
