Hundreds of Cubans Protest 22-Hour Havana Blackouts as US Fuel Embargo Enters 4th Month
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 14
Hundreds of Cubans Protest 22-Hour Havana Blackouts as US Fuel Embargo Enters 4th Month
8 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 14
Hundreds of residents protested across Havana on Wednesday night, blocking roads, banging pots and chanting for electricity during the capital’s biggest single night of demonstrations since the energy crisis began.
22-hour daily blackouts in many districts — and more than 40 hours without power in some neighborhoods — followed Cuba’s admission that it had run out of diesel and fuel oil and that the grid was in a "critical" state.
Police largely watched without intervening, and Reuters saw electricity restored in some protest sites, prompting crowds to cheer and quickly disperse.
The shortages have worsened since Trump imposed a fuel embargo in January and threatened tariffs on countries supplying Cuba; Mexico and Venezuela have halted shipments, and only one large Russian tanker has arrived since December.
Cuba says it is still seeking fuel imports as higher oil and shipping costs linked to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran add pressure, while the U.N. last week called the blockade unlawful.
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Cuba in Darkness: The 2026 Energy Crisis, U.S. Blockade, and the Humanitarian Toll
Overview
In May 2026, Cuba faces a severe crisis as widespread blackouts and social unrest grip the nation. The energy infrastructure is in critical condition after the country exhausted its reserves of diesel and fuel oil, forcing the grid to rely only on domestic crude, natural gas, and renewables. This situation is made worse by external pressures, especially a U.S. fuel blockade and the loss of Venezuelan oil shipments, which have left Cuba desperately seeking expensive fuel imports. The resulting blackouts disrupt daily life, spark protests, and drive many Cubans to emigrate, deepening the country’s humanitarian and economic challenges.