In the last two weeks, Cuba has experienced two major blackout events, leaving nearly all 11 million residents without power. An aging power grid, coupled with disruptions in global oil trading, has left the country’s power supply faltering. 

Cuba’s Power Grid Failures

Blackouts are not a new phenomenon for most Cubans; they have become accustomed to rolling power outages. The power grid infrastructure has been relied on far longer than intended. Many businesses have had to invest in solar panels to avoid losing power midday, rather than relying on the electrical grid. Over the last few years, this problem has been exacerbated, forcing citizens to adapt to living off-grid.

Day Zero 

Despite these difficulties, life for Cubans has recently worsened. Earlier this year, Venezuela ceased sending oil to Cuba, causing massive shocks to the country’s power system. Nearly half of Cuba’s oil needs were previously supplied by Venezuela. This gap in power production has left Cuba effectively running out of fuel, creating the conditions for an island-wide blackout.

Unlike blackouts of the past, the entire island, aside from those with solar panels or generators, was without power for over a day. The Cuban national news network was even down for 1.5 hours, citing the blackout as the cause. Coupled with these problems is the loss of oil trade with Mexico, which has also halted shipments to Cuba.

Food Insecurity

The aging electrical grid and the massive oil shortage in Cuba have created a dire situation for many citizens. The United Nations (U.N.) warned that the country could be on the verge of a humanitarian collapse. Refrigerators have not been much help over the last two weeks, as they have remained shut off, leading to food spoilage.

Some Cubans have resorted to buying food daily to prevent spoilage. Government officials have encouraged citizens to conserve food, fuel, water and even phone batteries. Hospitals can operate for only two to five hours during this energy crisis.

In response to the bleak situation, Cubans have protested by gathering in the streets of central Havana, the country’s capital and banging pots and pans.

Flotilla Provides Necessary Humanitarian Aid in Cuba

Nonetheless, hope arrives at the ports in the form of aid-bearing flotillas providing humanitarian aid to Cuba. The Nuestra America Convoy to Cuba (NAAC), an “international coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to delivering critical aid to the Cuban people,” launched on March 21, 2026. The NAAC brought food, medical supplies and solar panels to help Cubans cope without their electrical grid.

Individual countries have also sent aid, with Canada pledging $8 million in food aid to Cuba. Another North American contributor, Mexico, has already sent more than 1,000 tonnes of food aid in the last two weeks. Chile, China and Italy have also pledged support. These efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to Cuba play a major role in preventing the situation from becoming even more critical than it already is.

Conclusion 

With an aging power grid and the failure of multiple oil trade agreements, Cuba has suffered. Two island-wide blackouts have occurred in the last two weeks, along with daily power outages nationwide. These problems can be addressed through long-term investment in energy infrastructure and diplomatic trade discussions. 

However, humanitarian aid to Cuba is helping citizens caught in the crisis. Envoys from around the world have descended on the country, bringing the supplies Cubans lack.

– Zaccheri Morra

Zaccheri is based in Tallahassee, FL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash