Why did Cuba's power grid fail? Lack of oil is the main problem.

Cuba is slowly restoring power to 10 million people after its national electrical grid collapsed March 16, a blackout caused by an obsolete power system coupled to an oil blockade imposed by President Donald Trump.

The cause of the failure was still being investigated. Cuban officials said they were looking at electrical transmission problems and not a major power plant breakdown.

The island’s decrepit power system uses aging thermal power plants from the former Soviet Union. The system uses about 100,000 barrels of oil a day for essential services.

Cuban oil imports dropped in 2025 because of reductions from Mexico and Venezuela. Cuba also had problems paying for oil on the spot market.

Trump’s oil blockade reduced imports to near zero by mid-March.

Cuba depends on oil for electrical power

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What led to Cuba's power grid failure?

• Jan. 3: U.S. forces carry out Operation Absolute Resolve and seize Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
• Jan. 11: On Truth Social, Trump says there “will be no more oil or money going to Cuba” from Venezuela and warns Cuba to strike a deal.
• Jan. 29: Trump signs an executive order imposing tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba, essentially blocking shipments. Trump says Communist Cuba’s “policies, practices, and actions” pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
• Feb. 25: The Trump administration allows U.S. companies to send fuel to private businesses in Cuba.
• March 13: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel says officials have been meeting with U.S. representatives to “explore solutions” to national differences. He says Cuba is running on about 40% of the fuel it needs.
• March 16: Cuba’s power grid collapses.

Where else could Cuba find oil imports?

What will happen next in Cuba?

Trump says he believes he'll have "the honor of taking Cuba," an escalation of language as the United States continues to pressure the island nation just 90 miles south of Florida.

"I do believe I'll be ... having the honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor," Trump told reporters at the White House March 16.

"Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it, you want to know the truth," Trump said. "They're a very weakened nation right now."

CONTRIBUTING Kate Perez

SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; Council on Foreign Relations; Congressional Research Service