Cuban Power Grid Collapses for Third Time in Nine Days

Overview

• The island's national electricity system suffered a total collapse on Tuesday, marking the third large-scale blackout reported in nine days and leaving cities without centralized power.
• Cuban authorities attribute the outages to tightened U.S. restrictions that reduced fuel shipments from Venezuela and halted Mexican deliveries, which have combined with chronic underinvestment in plants and transmission lines.
• The blackout disrupted streetlights and traffic signals in Havana, forced businesses to rely on private generators, and caused household losses from food spoilage and interrupted services.
• Brazil dispatched two military flights carrying 48 tonnes of powdered milk and other humanitarian supplies but has refused to send fuel, citing risks that state firms could face U.S. penalties.
• The repeated collapses have sparked public protests and panelaços and raise the risk of prolonged social and economic strain if fuel flows or infrastructure repairs are not restored quickly.