Cuba hit by second nationwide power blackout

Cuba on Saturday suffered its second nationwide power outage in less than a week, according to officials. The Ministry of Energy and Mines said on X that another "total disconnection of the National Electric System has occurred. Protocols for restoration are already beginning to be implemented." The National Electric Union said the outage was caused by the shutdown of Unit No. 6 at a power plant in Nuevitas. It caused a domino effect to the rest of the country, the utility agency said on social media. The company had reported on social media that it was expecting a power deficit of 1.704 megawatts last night. Cuba is facing severe fuel crisis, as US continues to block critical oil shipments from Venezuela. Meanwhile, the country is preparing to receive a Russian tanker later this month. Its arrival would mark the first time any oil shipment from any country reaches Cuba in the past three months, given a US energy blockade.
Protests have been reported in Cuba in the past week as frustration grows over prolonged blackouts and worsening living conditions across the island. As its energy and economic crises deepen, the country is blaming the problems on a U.S. energy blockade after President Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to it.
Cuba has relied heavily on foreign assistance and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia and Venezuela. But critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the U.S. attacked the South American country in early January and arrested its then-president, Nicolás Maduro.