Cuba’s power grid collapsed mid-morning July 6, leaving the island’s entire population of 10 million without power again amid an ongoing economic crisis and social unrest.
Cuba’s national electric utility said the cause of the blackout remained under investigation, the Electric Union (Unión Eléctrica de Cuba) reported. The country’s Ministry of Mines said one of the generating units returned to service about two hours later.
Cuba’s energy infrastructure is collapsing amid U.S. sanctions and restrictions on oil imports from its key ally Venezuela.
Cuba has suffered several nationwide blackouts in the past year, before U.S. President Donald Trump cut off oil deliveries to Cuba from Venezuela in January, exacerbating the situation. With Cuba’s main supplier impaired, Havana is without the energy needed to keep its grid stable, leading to rolling blackouts and widespread shortages of everything from medicines to food. Protests have spread across the island as Cubans increasingly voice their frustration….