Cuba is grappling with a severe energy crisis as blackouts and protests have intensified across the island. The situation reached a critical point as fuel shortages have crippled the national electric system, with officials reporting a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours on Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera.

Impact of the US Sanctions

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has blamed the worsening crisis on US sanctions, which he described as a “genocidal energy blockade.” Diaz-Canel said that about 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost due to fuel shortages on Wednesday. He added that the restrictions on fuel shipments, imposed by the United States, are significantly harming the country’s ability to maintain power for its 10 million residents, according to Al Jazeera.

The US sanctions were tightened in January 2026 when President Donald Trump issued an executive order threatening tariffs on any country supplying fuel to Cuba, as reported by dw.com. This move has caused Cuba’s major fuel suppliers, Venezuela and Mexico, to halt shipments, and the only fuel delivery since December has been from a single Russian-flagged oil tanker in April.

Protests and Public Frustration

Public frustration has boiled over into protests, with residents in Havana expressing their anger by banging pots and pans on Wednesday evening. A resident of San Miguel del Padron, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Havana, told AFP that people were demanding “Turn on the lights!” in the western district of Playa, according to Al Jazeera.

Similar protests were reported in other neighborhoods across the capital, as residents continue to face worsening living conditions; these protests come amid not only power outages but also shortages of food and medicine, as reported by dw.com. In some districts. Residents were without power for 20 hours a day, and in several provinces, blackouts can last for days.

International Reactions and Ongoing Efforts

Cuba has continued to seek fuel imports despite the blockade, according to Energy Minister De la O Levy — However, rising oil prices due to the Iran war have made the situation more complicated. “Cuba is open to anyone that wants to sell us fuel,” the minister said, as reported by dw.com.

The United Nations recently criticized the US blockade, calling it unlawful and stating that it obstructs the Cuban people’s right to development while undermining their rights to food, education, health, and water and sanitation, according to dw.com.