Cuba was thrust into darkness once again when a power grid collapse left millions without electricity. For the island nation, this was not an isolated event, but part of a deepening crisis that has plagued the country for years. Cuba’s power outages, which have lasted up to 20 hours a day in some provinces, are the latest symptom of a larger, more systemic set of problems tied to its neglected infrastructure and stagnating economy. This multi-layered crisis is eroding not just the everyday lives of Cubans, but also the future of a nation grappling with rising emigration, resource shortages, and political unrest.
Fragile Energy Infrastructure
Cuba’s energy woes stem from its outdated and overstressed power generation network, which is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels. According to government data, the island currently produces only one-third of the electricity required to meet the needs of its population, leaving the rest of the nation to suffer from chronic blackouts. These outages have only intensified in recent months, with cities and towns across Cuba plunged into darkness for hours each day.
The country’s reliance on aging infrastructure compounds the problem. Eight decrepit coal-fired power plants, some of which have been operational for more than four decades, are the backbone of Cuba’s electricity generation. The plants are prone to frequent breakdowns and are often under repair. To alleviate the strain on its power grid, the government has resorted to leasing floating power plants from Turkish companies and deploying small diesel-powered generators. However, these temporary solutions are barely enough to keep the lights on.
Cuba’s troubles are exacerbated by its inability to purchase sufficient fuel. A major factor in this shortage is the tightening of the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, particularly during Donald Trump’s presidency, which further limited Cuba’s ability to buy oil and other essential resources. The island has long depended on oil imports from its ally Venezuela, partially paying for these deliveries by sending Cuban doctors to assist the South American country. However, even this lifeline is diminishing. Venezuela has cut the volume of oil it supplies to Cuba significantly, from about 33,700 barrels per day in June 2024 to only around 22,000 barrels per day by September of the same year.
While the Cuban government has initiated renewable energy projects to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, progress has been slow. A combination of underinvestment, bureaucratic inefficiency, and the U.S. embargo has hampered the development of renewable energy infrastructure, further delaying any meaningful relief from the energy crisis.
A Crumbling Economy
Cuba is facing its worst economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, an event that left the island isolated from its largest benefactor at the time. Today, inflation is at sky-high levels, and everyday necessities such as food, medicine, and fuel are in short supply. Even water shortages have become a pressing concern in many parts of the country. The government’s failure to address these crises has led to widespread frustration among the population, sparking social unrest.
The Cuban government attributes much of its economic hardship to the U.S. embargo, which has been in place since 1962. While it’s undeniable that the embargo has had a significant impact, other factors are also at play. The aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to reverberate through the country, particularly in its tourism sector, which is a critical source of revenue. Meanwhile, economic mismanagement has left the island ill-equipped to cope with the current challenges.
In July 2021, Cuba witnessed an unprecedented wave of protests, as thousands of citizens took to the streets chanting slogans like “We are hungry” and “Freedom!” The protests were primarily fueled by blackouts and soaring food prices. The government responded by cracking down on the unrest, which resulted in the death of one protester and the injury of dozens more. Human rights groups, such as Justicia 11J, estimate that around 600 people arrested during the protests remain imprisoned to this day.
The Cuban government accused the United States of orchestrating the protests, but in the wake of the unrest, Havana implemented a significant policy change by allowing the creation of private small- and medium-sized businesses. This was a major shift in a country long governed by communist economic principles. However, this reform alone has been insufficient to stem the tide of public discontent or improve the broader economy.
In 2022, further protests erupted, again over widespread power cuts, leading to more arrests. The situation briefly improved in 2023, but by 2024, the energy crisis had worsened once again. In March, hundreds of Cubans in Santiago de Cuba and three other cities took to the streets, demanding access to basic necessities like food and electricity. The protests underscored the deep-seated frustration felt by many Cubans, who have grown tired of waiting for improvements that never seem to materialize.
The Exodus
As the situation on the island continues to deteriorate, more and more Cubans are choosing to leave. The country is experiencing its largest wave of emigration since the 1959 revolution, which brought Fidel Castro to power. For many, the hope of a better future lies elsewhere.
Official statistics indicate that Cuba’s population will drop to fewer than 10 million people by the end of 2024, a sharp decline from the 11.1 million recorded during the 2012 census. The loss of population is primarily driven by the exodus of Cubans to the United States, where over 700,000 people have migratedboth legally and illegally between January 2022 and August 2024, according to U.S. officials. This figure does not account for those who have fled to Latin America or Europe, for which detailed data is scarce.
The average monthly wage in Cuba hovers around 5,000 pesos, or just $41. This meager income, combined with the lack of job opportunities, access to basic services, and political repression, has left many Cubans feeling hopeless. For them, leaving the island is the only viable option.
The effects of this emigration are profound. Not only is Cuba losing a significant portion of its workforce, but many of those leaving are young and educated individuals who would otherwise play a critical role in rebuilding the country’s economy. This brain drain further compounds the challenges facing the island as it struggles to modernize its infrastructure and develop sustainable industries.
Conclusion
Cuba’s current predicament is the result of decades of mismanagement, a reliance on crumbling infrastructure, and external pressures such as the U.S. embargo. The island’s energy crisis, which has left millions in the dark, is only the most visible manifestation of a deeper, multifaceted problem that also includes economic collapse, social unrest, and an unprecedented wave of emigration. While the government has made some attempts to address these issues such as allowing private businesses and pursuing renewable energy projects the scale of the crisis requires far more substantial and urgent reforms.
For the Cuban people, the future remains uncertain. The blackouts, shortages, and soaring inflation show no signs of abating, and the exodus of their compatriots continues to erode the fabric of the nation. As 2024 progresses, the question remains: How much longer can Cuba endure its endless woes?
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