Cuba grid collapse: The situation is growing more dire, experts say

Key Points:

• Cuba is facing a severe energy crisis due to dwindling oil supplies, with prolonged daily power outages affecting essential services such as water, lighting, refrigeration, and communications, according to U.S. officials and experts on Cuban-U.S. relations.
• The crisis worsened after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2025, cutting off about 20-24% of Cuba's oil imports from Venezuela, compounded by U.S. sanctions and an executive order declaring Cuba a national security threat.
• Cuba's aging oil-run power plants and lack of maintenance have exacerbated the situation, with about 80% of electricity generated from natural gas and 20% from renewables, but the blockade and fuel shortages have pushed the country toward a humanitarian crisis.
• The energy shortage has crippled Cuba's economy, leading to empty grocery shelves, stalled agriculture, limited hospital function, and widespread public protests met with police repression, signaling a breakdown of social order.
• U.S. officials have warned Americans in Cuba to prepare for disruptions and avoid large gatherings, while Cuban officials have condemned U.S. actions as dangerous, with ongoing discussions on intelligence and security cooperation amid the crisis.