Cuba’s Power Crisis: A Glimpse Into the Effects of Systemic Fragility
Enough is Enough. My country is no longer for your agenda. She's falling apart.
Photo by: Ramon Espinosa/AP
Cuba’s Power Crisis: A Glimpse Into the Effects of Systemic Fragility
In October 2024, Cuba faced a catastrophic collapse of its power grid, leaving millions in total darkness. While Cuban citizens have experienced decades of shortages and blackouts, the current crisis exposed an unprecedented level of infrastructural degradation within the state-controlled grid, leading to a near-complete loss of power across the island. Essential services like healthcare, food refrigeration, and transportation were paralyzed, intensifying public frustrations and further isolating the population from international aid and support.
Cuba’s electrical grid struggles stem from years of systemic neglect and outdated technology. Reliant on obsolete, state-owned power infrastructure, the government’s inability to procure or maintain essential components due to economic constraints has made outages an almost daily occurrence. As energy stability further deteriorates, Cubans turn increasingly to diesel generators, solar panels, and other independent power sources. These alternatives, however, remain largely inaccessible due to exorbitant costs and restrictions on imports.
The human toll of these crises cannot be understated. With limited power for hospitals and emergency services, medical treatments are disrupted, and life-saving technologies are rendered useless. Food spoilage and lack of clean water only deepen the island’s humanitarian crisis, prompting questions about long-term solutions for Cuba’s deeply vulnerable infrastructure.
Photo by: Ramon Espinosa/AP
A broader lesson here is the unsustainable nature of centralized systems without adequate modernization. By comparing Cuba’s grid to other nations with aging infrastructure, such as Venezuela, experts suggest that decentralization, foreign investment, and renewable energy adoption could alleviate the worst impacts. The crisis serves as a stark reminder of the essential role resilient energy systems play in public health and safety and highlights the need for comprehensive energy reform across vulnerable regions.