Cuba's power grid collapses again, leaving millions without electricity for at least 6th time this year, tell me about this news in (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cuba-power-grid-collapse-trump-administration-energy-blockade/)
19-09-2026
According to the CBS News report, Cuba’s national power grid collapsed again on Friday, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity. This marks at least the sixth nationwide grid failure since the Trump administration imposed an energy blockade on the country in January.
Key details from the report include:
• Cause and Impact of the Collapse: Cuban authorities reported that a failure occurred in transmission lines in the western region, causing a collapse that spread across to Matanzas province and subsequently disconnected the eastern portion of the island. Unstable weather conditions further complicated the grid’s stability.
• Restoration Efforts: The Ministry of Energy and Mines initiated service-restoration protocols. By Friday evening, power had been returned to roughly 5% of customers in Havana, while localized “micro-islands” of electricity were set up in provinces such as Camagüey, Pinar del Río, and Granma to keep hospitals and critical emergency infrastructure operational.
• Underlying Energy Crisis: Grid failures have sharply escalated following U.S. measures, including an executive order penalizing nations that supply or sell oil to Cuba with tariffs. These restrictions have severely curtailed Cuba’s ability to import fuel for thermoelectric plants as well as spare parts for aging infrastructure. Since January, only one fuel tankersent by Russia in Marchhas been delivered.
• Humanitarian and Daily Strain: Even during regular operations, residents frequently face scheduled blackouts exceeding 30 consecutive hours. The widespread power outages have crippled water supplies, food preservation, cooking, public transit, internet connectivity, and routine healthcare services.
• Geopolitical Context: While U.S. officials have noted a preference for diplomatic avenues leading to governmental and economic transition, the report notes that the Trump administration has evaluated various pressure tacticsincluding contingency military optionsdrawing comparisons to policy actions previously taken regarding Venezuela. Meanwhile, Cuban officials, including Cuba’s ambassador to the United Nations, have characterized the embargo measures and resulting blackouts as a form of “collective punishment.”