Cuba restores power after nationwide blackout amid US oil blockade

Cuba's national power grid was restored Sunday following a second nationwide blackout in a week, officials said. The outage, caused by a failure at an ageing thermoelectric plant, left two-thirds of Havana without electricity for 24 hours. This crisis occurs as Cuba faces an ongoing US oil blockade since January, with no oil deliveries since January 9th. The blockade has crippled the power sector, leading to regular blackouts since 2024 and exacerbating Cuba's economic crisis. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz credited electrical workers with restoring power, but cautioned demand still exceeds supply. The blackouts have fueled public frustration, with Cubans protesting nightly by banging pots and vandalizing government offices. Cuba's military is reportedly preparing for potential US aggression, while Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio stated Havana is willing to talk with Washington but refuses to discuss political system changes. International aid convoys are arriving with medical supplies and solar panels, but Cuba urgently needs oil to power its thermoelectric plants. This situation highlights the vulnerability of energy-dependent nations to geopolitical blockades.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/03/23/cuba-restores-power-grid-after-latest-blackout/