By The Opinion
The president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel accused the United States of causing the serious energy crisis facing the island through a “genocidal energy blockade.” which, he assured, prevents the arrival of fuel and aggravates the blackouts that affect millions of Cubans.
In a message published on social networks, the president stated that The “energy fence” imposed by Washington is “suffocating” the country and directly blamed US sanctions for the deterioration of the National Electroenergy System.
“The dramatic worsening” of the electricity cuts has “a single cause,” wrote Díaz-Canel, by denouncing that the United States threatens sanctions and tariffs on nations or companies that supply fuel to Cuba.
The electricity crisis has intensified in recent days. The state-run Electrical Union of Cuba estimated that the energy deficit for this Wednesday would reach more than 2,000 megawatts during peak demand hours, simultaneously leaving about 63% of the country without service.
In several provinces, residents have faced blackouts of more than 20 consecutive hourswhile in Havana interruptions of up to 15 hours in a row have been reported.
The situation of the National Electroenergy System is particularly tense in recent days.
For today, a deficit of more than 2 thousand MW is forecast during peak demand or nighttime peak hours.
This dramatic worsening has a single cause: the genocidal…
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) Could 13, 2026
Energy disaster hits the island
Given the deterioration of the service, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, announced a special intervention on state television to explain the energy situation.
Díaz-Canel maintained that Washington is trying to present the crisis as a consequence of poor government managementwhen, as he stated, it responds to a strategy to generate social discontent and internal political pressure.
The president also recalled that the partial relief of some restrictions during recent years allowed a temporary economic and energy improvement on the island. However, he noted that new measures promoted after Donald Trump’s return to the White House once again tightened the limitations on fuel supply.
According to official figures, Cuba needs around 100,000 barrels of oil per day, although its local production is barely around 40,000. Since January, only one foreign oil tanker has arrived in Cuban ports, when normally at least eight vessels per month are required to cover national demand.
Independent experts agree that the crisis not only responds to external restrictions, but also to the deterioration of Cuban thermoelectric plants.many of them obsolete after decades without sufficient investments. Currently, eight of the country’s 16 generation units remain out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance.
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