Trending 
Electricity has been restored in Cuba’s eastern region after a partial grid failure caused an outage on Saturday, as the island continues to face a months-long US oil blockade.
According to AFP, the national power company, Union Electrica de Cuba (UNE), confirmed the restoration in a statement.
“The partial disconnection of the national grid in the eastern region is over,” the company said.
Read More : Coroner Rules Death of Three Nigerian Sisters
Nearly three hours earlier, UNE had reported a failure on the power line linking Nuevitas to Las Tunas province. However, it did not state how many provinces were affected. Cuba, which has a population of about 9.4 million, has faced repeated power outages. In some areas, rolling blackouts last up to 20 hours a day.
These outages also disrupt water supplies and telephone service, making daily life harder for residents. The crisis is partly linked to the country’s ageing energy infrastructure. Many power plants are in poor condition and require weeks of maintenance.
Since January, the United States has effectively cut off oil supplies to Cuba as part of a wider pressure campaign. The restrictions have made it harder for the island to obtain fuel for backup generators.
Cuba has experienced seven nationwide blackouts since the start of the year and about 12 since late 2024. UNE has warned that fuel shortages leave the power network more vulnerable to further outages.
Read More : US Inmate Leaves Hospital After Failed Execution
To reduce its reliance on fuel, the Cuban government launched a major solar panel installation programme two years ago with support from China. Official data shows that renewable sources account for 21 per cent of the country’s energy mix.
Relations between Washington and Havana have also worsened since US forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro at the start of 2026. Maduro was a key ally of the Cuban government.
US President Donald Trump’s administration has described Cuba as an “extraordinary threat” to US national security. It has also refused to rule out military intervention to push for economic and political reforms. Cuba lies about 90 miles (150 kilometres) off Florida’s coast.
