Cuba Grid Collapse: The Situation Is Growing More Dire, Experts Say

Cuba’s grid collapse is escalating into a full-blown humanitarian crisis, with prolonged blackouts leaving residents without power, water, or food for extended periods. The crisis has been exacerbated by a combination of factors, including the halt of Venezuelan oil imports after the US capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

The island’s aging infrastructure, which includes electric power plants over 40 years old, is also a major contributor to the crisis. Cuba’s chronic underinvestment in its energy sector has left it vulnerable to disruptions, and the lack of capital maintenance on these facilities has further exacerbated the problem.

In east Cuba, the situation is particularly dire due to damage from Hurricane Helena in 2024, which still hasn’t been fully repaired. Chair of the Cuba Studies Program at Harvard University Alejandro de la Fuente notes that the crisis has been compounded by the US-imposed blockade, which has pushed Cuba into a humanitarian crisis.

The impact on Cuba’s economy is severe. Grocery store shelves are empty, hospitals struggle to function, and the agricultural sector has ground to a halt due to the lack of diesel. The island’s food supply, already vulnerable due to its reliance on imports (70-80% of domestic requirements), is now at risk of collapse.

Family members of de la Fuente who are in Cuba have reported having only two hours of electricity within a 36-hour timeframe. The lack of oil has also had a profound impact on transportation, with long lines at gas stations and electric vehicles becoming the rare exception rather than the rule.

Protests erupting across Havana, with reports of aggressive police repression against demonstrators, indicate that social order is beginning to break down. Cuban citizens are demanding action from their government to address this crisis, which has sparked outrage among residents.

The US administration’s policies towards Cuba have been criticized for causing maximum pain on the island nation rather than addressing national security concerns. Trump’s executive order accusing Cuba of supporting “hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States” is reminiscent of Cold War-era rhetoric.

The international community must take a hard look at its role in exacerbating this situation. The US blockade has been a long-standing feature of Cuba’s economic landscape, but its impact has never been more dire. The World Food Programme estimates that 70-80% of Cuba’s domestic food requirements come from imports, which are now under threat due to the energy crisis.

The collapse of Cuba’s grid is not a recent phenomenon, but rather a symptom of deeper structural issues that require urgent attention. Will the international community step up to address this crisis, or will we stand idly by as another nation teeters on the brink of disaster?