Cuba's national electric grid has collapsed, leaving around 10 million residents without power. This failure is attributed to a US-imposed oil blockade that has severely impacted the island's outdated energy generation system. The blackout follows a series of widespread outages that have sparked unrest in the country.

Grid Collapse and Protests
On Monday, the national grid operator, UNE, announced via social media that it was investigating the causes of the blackout. This incident is the latest in a troubling trend of prolonged power outages that have led to rare protests against the government. Last weekend, Cubans took to the streets to express their frustration over the ongoing energy crisis.

US Oil Blockade and Its Consequences
The situation has been exacerbated by the US government's increased pressure on Cuba, particularly following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January. Venezuela has historically been Cuba's most significant oil supplier, but the US has cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and threatened tariffs on nations that provide oil to Cuba. Consequently, Cuba has struggled to secure necessary fuel imports, receiving only two small vessels this year.

Negotiations and Future Prospects
In light of the crisis, Cuban officials have initiated talks with US representatives in hopes of alleviating the situation. President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he believes Cuba is on the brink of collapse and has expressed a desire to engage with the island nation. Trump remarked on the possibility of "taking Cuba," reflecting the heightened tensions between the two nations.

Current Oil Supply Status
According to ship-tracking data, Cuba has not seen significant oil imports this year. The first tanker arrived from Mexico in January, while a second vessel from Jamaica delivered liquefied petroleum gas in February. However, no large imports have occurred through the main ports of Matanzas or Moa, which typically handle crude oil and fuel oil for power generation. Satellite images indicate that the ports of Havana and Cienfuegos have been inactive for over a month.

Wrap-up
The collapse of Cuba's electrical grid amid a stringent US oil blockade highlights the dire energy situation on the island. As the government grapples with public unrest and seeks negotiations with the US, the future of Cuba's energy security remains uncertain.

Sources
theguardian.com

@hoju-korean.com Editorial Team