Is Cuba Reaching Its Limit? Fourth Nationwide Blackout in a Month

Amid ongoing U.S. economic sanctions and energy blockades, Cuba has suffered yet another nationwide blackout as its National Electric System (SEN) collapsed.

According to Spanish-language media outlet Infobae and Bloomberg on the 3rd local time, Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced that a complete cut-off of power supply occurred across the entire SEN at around 11 p.m. the previous night.

This is the sixth time this year that Cuba's national power grid has suffered a total collapse.

In particular, power grids have been cut off four times in less than a month since July 6, sharply intensifying the power crisis recently.

Cuba requires about 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day, but it is experiencing a severe energy crisis as external supplies face disruptions due to U.S. blockade measures.

Cuba's domestic crude oil production is only 40,000 barrels per day, which is 40 percent of the daily required amount.

Blackouts are occurring consecutively due to this absolute shortage of crude oil coupled with the deterioration of power generation facilities.

The Electric Union stated, "We are applying protocols to restart the power grid," but critics point out that because these remain "patchwork fixes" without fundamental solutions to aging facilities, another nationwide blackout is only a matter of time.

It is estimated that restoring the power grid completely would cost between 8 billion and 10 billion dollars (approx. 11.5 trillion to 14.5 trillion won). However, due to heavy U.S. sanctions, even tourism and medical service exports—the core means of earning foreign currency—are effectively blocked, leaving the Cuban government with no way to raise the necessary funds.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.