Trending Now - Cuba Faces Blackouts and Unrest Amid Fuel Shortages

WHO:

ABC News - Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that the energy situation is “tense” after supplies of oil delivered by a Russian vessel in late March ran out.

ABC News - Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy described the energy situation as “critical” during a television appearance.

Al Jazeera - Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated, “We have absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel.”

Al Jazeera - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the energy situation as “particularly tense in recent days.”

AP - Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel described the energy situation as “tense.”

AP - Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy described the energy situation as “critical.”

Bloomberg Markets - The Cuban government is involved in the situation regarding fuel shortages and civil unrest.

WHAT:

Bloomberg Markets - Cuba has completely run out of the diesel and fuel oil necessary for operating its power plants.

ABC News - The state-run Electric Union reported that power outages in Havana stretched to 24 consecutive hours on a recent Thursday.

Al Jazeera - The country is expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours.

Al Jazeera - About 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost due to fuel shortages.

Al Jazeera - Residents in Havana protested the power cuts by banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans.

Al Jazeera - In some parts of Havana, residents have endured outages lasting more than 19 hours a day.

Al Jazeera - The country is expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours.

Al Jazeera - Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated, “We have absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel.”

Al Jazeera - The situation is described as “particularly tense in recent days” by Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Al Jazeera - In some parts of Havana, residents have endured outages lasting more than 19 hours a day.

Al Jazeera - The island is relying on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operating.

NBC News Politics - Secretary of State Marco Rubio renewed an offer of $100 million in aid for Cuba, conditional on distribution through the Catholic Church rather than the Cuban government.

ABC News - Cuba's national energy grid suffered a major failure early Thursday, cutting power to the island’s eastern provinces.

ABC News - The state-run Electric Union reported that power outages in Havana stretched to 24 consecutive hours on Thursday.

Al Jazeera - The country is expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours.

Al Jazeera - About 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost due to fuel shortages.

Al Jazeera - Residents in Havana protested the power cuts by banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans.

Al Jazeera - In some parts of Havana, residents have endured outages lasting more than 19 hours a day.

ABC News - The state-run Electric Union reported that power outages in Havana stretched to 24 consecutive hours.

ABC News - The blackouts have led to reduced work hours and food spoilage as refrigerators stop working, with some hospitals canceling surgeries.

Al Jazeera - Cuba is expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours.

Al Jazeera - About 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost due to fuel shortages.

AP - Cuba's national energy grid suffered a major failure, cutting power to the island’s eastern provinces.

AP - Power outages in Havana stretched to 24 consecutive hours.

Bloomberg Markets - Cuba has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil necessary for operating its power plants.

Bloomberg Markets - Civil unrest has started to break out in Cuba amid the fuel shortages.

WHERE:

AP - The power outage affected all eastern provinces from Guantánamo to Ciego de Ávila.

Bloomberg Markets - The unrest is occurring in Cuba, specifically mentioned is Havana.

WHY:

Al Jazeera - The worsening energy crisis in Cuba is attributed to tightened restrictions on fuel shipments by the United States.

Al Jazeera - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the situation as a “genocidal energy blockade” imposed by the US.

Al Jazeera - The worsening energy crisis in Cuba is attributed to tightened restrictions on fuel shipments by the United States.

Al Jazeera - Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the situation as a “genocidal energy blockade” imposed by the US.

ABC News - The Cuban government has blamed the outages on U.S. sanctions after Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba.

Al Jazeera - The worsening energy crisis in Cuba is attributed to tightened restrictions on fuel shipments by the United States.

AP - Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy.

Bloomberg Markets - The fuel shortages are attributed to a de facto US energy blockade against Cuba.

HOW:

Al Jazeera - Cuba is relying on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operating, but the electrical system has become increasingly fragile.

ABC News - The island is relying on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operating, but the electrical system has become increasingly fragile.

Al Jazeera - Cuba is relying on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operating.

AP - Crews were working to restore power, but no estimate was given for how long it would take.

Bloomberg Markets - The lack of fuel has plunged the country into darkness, leading to protests.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 17:25 UTC)

Cuba has completely run out of the diesel and fuel oil needed to operate its power plants, leading to severe power outages in Havana that have lasted up to 24 consecutive hours. The country is facing a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours, with about 1,100 megawatts of generation already lost due to fuel shortages, prompting residents to protest by banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans. President Miguel Diaz-Canel has labeled the situation a “genocidal energy blockade” imposed by the United States, as Cuba struggles to rely on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the electrical grid functioning.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 15:39 UTC)

Cuba is facing a significant energy crisis, with a projected deficit of over 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours, as described by Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy, who stated that the country has "absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel." President Miguel Diaz-Canel has noted that the situation has become "particularly tense in recent days," with some residents in Havana experiencing outages lasting more than 19 hours a day. In response to the crisis, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has renewed an offer of $100 million in aid for Cuba, which would be distributed through the Catholic Church instead of the Cuban government.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 06:11 UTC)

Cuba's national energy grid has suffered a major failure, resulting in significant power outages across the island, particularly in the eastern provinces and Havana, where residents have faced cuts lasting over 24 hours. The state-run Electric Union reported a loss of about 1,100 megawatts due to fuel shortages, and the country is projected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours. In response to the ongoing crisis, which Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has labeled a “genocidal energy blockade” by the United States, residents have taken to the streets, protesting by banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 01:33 UTC)

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has declared the energy situation in the country to be “tense” and “critical,” as power outages in Havana have now stretched to 24 consecutive hours. These blackouts are causing significant disruptions, including reduced work hours, food spoilage, and even the cancellation of surgeries in some hospitals, as the state-run Electric Union struggles with a fragile electrical system. The Cuban government attributes these outages to U.S. sanctions, particularly following Trump’s warning of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba, leaving the island to rely on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to maintain some grid operations.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 23:16 UTC)

Cuba is grappling with a severe energy crisis, with Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stating that the country has “absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel.” President Miguel Diaz-Canel has described the situation as “particularly tense in recent days,” as the island faces a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours, compounded by the loss of about 1,100 megawatts due to fuel shortages. The crisis is largely attributed to tightened restrictions on fuel shipments by the United States, forcing Cuba to rely on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operational.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 21:28 UTC)

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has described the energy situation in the country as “tense,” while Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy has labeled it “critical” following a major failure of Cuba's national energy grid that has cut power to the island’s eastern provinces. The power outages have extended to 24 consecutive hours in Havana and have affected all eastern provinces from Guantánamo to Ciego de Ávila, as Cuba struggles to produce barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy. Crews are currently working to restore power, but no estimate has been provided for how long the recovery efforts will take.

(UPDATED May 14, 2026 17:33 UTC)

Cuba is facing significant civil unrest as the government grapples with severe fuel shortages, having completely run out of diesel and fuel oil needed for its power plants. The situation has sparked protests, particularly in Havana, as the lack of fuel has plunged the country into darkness. These shortages are largely attributed to a de facto US energy blockade against Cuba.