Cuba Faces Sixth Islandwide Blackout This Year Amidst Fuel Shortages and Grid Issues
Cuba experienced its sixth islandwide blackout this year, with significant outages reported in western Cuba, including Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, and Havana. The blackouts are exacerbated by the U.S. cutting off oil supplies and an aging energy grid, leading to…
Cleveland Akron, OH, August 3, 2026 —
Cuba has been hit by its sixth islandwide power outage of the year, with substantial disruptions reported across the western regions of the country, including Pinar del Rio, Matanzas, and the capital city, Havana.
The persistent blackouts are reportedly intensified by a combination of factors, including reduced oil supplies from the United States and the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. These issues have resulted in widespread rolling blackouts that, in some instances, have lasted for over 20 hours per day.
The impact of these extensive power outages is far-reaching, affecting the daily routines of Cuban citizens, the functionality of critical infrastructure such as hospitals, and the vital tourism industry.
The frequency of these islandwide blackouts underscores the ongoing challenges within Cuba’s energy sector. The exact causes and the duration of the most recent outage were not immediately available, but the trend points to systemic issues affecting power generation and distribution across the island.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.news5cleveland.com, see more information here.
