The energy crisis in Cuba has visibly worsened since the beginning of the U.S. blockade on oil shipments, leaving large areas of the country plunged into darkness.
An analysis of satellite images conducted by Bloomberg reveals that nighttime light intensity in several Cuban cities has decreased by up to 50 percent compared to historical levels.
However, recently the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that power outages have intensified in Havana and other provinces due to the government's decision to prioritize electricity for the economy.
The Bloomberg study, based on data from NASA and other mapping sources, shows a significant deterioration since the beginning of the year.
The island's electrical system already had weaknesses before a severe fault in a transmission line disrupted the connection between Havana and key thermoelectric plants in Matanzas in December.
Subsequently, the administration of President Donald Trump blocked fuel shipments that accounted for nearly 60 percent of the approximately 100,000 barrels per day needed to sustain electricity generation.
Satellite images show that eastern cities such as Santiago de Cuba and Holguín have experienced the largest declines in nighttime lighting.
Streetlights and residential networks that once kept large urban areas active now appear significantly dimmer or completely off.
The relative exception is Havana. Although neighborhoods in the east, such as Alamar and Cojímar, show lower light intensity, the city center remains largely illuminated.
According to experts cited by Bloomberg, this difference could be attributed both to the political priority given to the seat of government and to a greater economic capacity to adopt alternative solutions such as solar panels and battery systems.
Data from the state-owned Unión Eléctrica indicate that daily electricity availability has sharply declined, with the deficit between supply and demand reaching historic levels.
The collapse coincides with the interruption of crude oil shipments from Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3 and the subsequent order from Trump to cut the energy supply to Havana.
Mexico, which had also sent shipments of oil, made its last significant delivery on January 9, according to the analysis firm Kpler.
Weeks later, Washington's warning about possible tariffs on countries that supplied fuel to the island ultimately halted that flow.
Since then, Cuba has not received significant deliveries of crude oil.
Some analysts estimate that the available reserves could cover less than 20 days of consumption, although there are no official figures.
In light of the situation, the government announced contingency measures that include the reduction of public transport routes, the shortening of the state workweek to four days, the closure of tourist facilities, and restrictions on gasoline sales.
The situation has intensified the pressure on the population, which is facing prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and difficulties accessing basic services.
Experts warn that, unlike the crisis of the 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the island now has less external margin to sustain its energy system, which tests an infrastructure already weakened by years of lack of investment and maintenance.
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