Focus on the BIG picture.
Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026

Cuba's Energy Quandary: A Nation in the Dark

Power outages in Cuba signal deep-rooted challenges and opportunities for energy reform
Cuba's energy crisis has once again thrust the nation into the spotlight, as a failure at the Antonio Guiteras power plant has left millions without electricity.

This is no mere technical glitch, but an emblem of the country's precarious energy infrastructure.

The collapse of the grid underscores vulnerabilities exacerbated by a decline in oil imports from pivotal allies such as Venezuela and Russia, intertwined with the sporadic fury of natural disasters like Hurricanes Oscar and Rafael.

All these elements compound Cuba's struggle to maintain power stability.

Beyond the technical and natural adversities lies a narrative of mismanagement and underinvestment.

Cuba's persistent dependence on antiquated, oil-fired power plants reflects a systemic oversight in energy policy—highlighting the need for diversification.

Yet, the economic constraints posed by a long-standing embargo impede the island's access to the technological and financial resources essential for modernization.

Cuba's challenges mirror the tales of other nations that have successfully navigated similar straits.

Nicaragua offers a beacon of hope, having turned its crisis into an opportunity by investing extensively in renewable energy.

Such pathways towards sustainability could offer Cuba a viable blueprint.

Despite the dire circumstances, every challenge harbors the seeds of opportunity.

For Cuba, this crisis could be the impetus for initiating energy reform—albeit within a complex web of socio-political constraints.

Internal reforms will need to be married with external cooperation and support, both daunting tasks but necessary for a resilient future.

As the world observes Cuba's struggle to emerge from this enforced darkness, we are reminded of the intricate interconnections between global resources, political alliances, and human resilience.

The path forward demands innovative leadership and international solidarity, with the hope that these challenges will illuminate a brighter and sustainable future for the island.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Urges Continued Negotiations with Iran on Nuclear Programme After White House Meeting with Netanyahu
Trump Administration Unveils Most Detailed Renderings Yet of White House Ballroom Expansion
Why Washington Is Facing Growing Calls for a National Robotics Strategy
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Releases 3.5 Million Pages of Jeffrey Epstein Case Files
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Comment on European allies report blaming Russia for killing late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny using toxin from poison dart frogs
Eighty-Year-Old Lottery Winner Sentenced to 16.5 Years for Drug Trafficking
UK Quran Burner May Receive Asylum in the US Amid Legal Challenges
Rubio Calls for Sweeping U.N. Reform, Saying It Has Failed to End Wars in Gaza and Ukraine
10,000 Condoms Distributed at Winter Olympics 2026 Athlete Village Depleted Within 72 Hours
Poland's President Advocates for Evaluating Independent Nuclear Weapons Development
Rubio Reaffirms Transatlantic Bond at Munich Despite Strains Over Trump Policies
Viral AI video of Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt sparks Hollywood panic: 'It's likely over for us'
Mayor of Serdobsk in Russia’s Penza Region Resigns After Housing Certificates Granted to Migrant Family Trigger Public Outcry
Pentagon Reviews Anthropic Partnership After Claude AI Reportedly Used in Operation Targeting Nicolás Maduro
President Donald Trump and Hip-Hop’s Political Realignment: Pardons, Public Endorsements, and the Struggle Over Cultural Influence
China’s EV Makers Face Mandatory Return to Physical Buttons and Door Handles in Driver-Distraction Safety Overhaul
Goldman Sachs and DP World Executive Resignations: Elite-Reputation Risk and Corporate Governance Fallout From the Epstein Disclosures
‘Amelia’: The UK Government’s Anti-Extremism Game Villain Who Became a Protest Symbol
Switzerland Set for Landmark Referendum on Population Cap Proposal
Walmart's Earnings and UK Economic Data Highlight Upcoming Financial Trends
UK Green Party Considering Proposal to Legalize Heroin for an Inclusive Society
SpaceX's New Vision: Lunar City Takes Precedence Over Mars Colonization
OpenAI and DeepCent Superintelligence Race: Artificial General Intelligence and AI Agents as a National Security Arms Race
U.S. House Rebukes Trump Canada Tariffs, Passes SAVE Act, and Border Laser Incident Shuts Airspace in 12-Hour Political Jolt
House GOP Passes Save America Act Requiring Proof of Citizenship for Federal Voter Registration Amid Debate Over Election Integrity and Access
South Korea’s Births Edge Up After Years of Decline, Raising Hopes — and Doubts
Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Supermajority After High-Stakes Snap Election
Emergency Call Reveals Australian Teen’s Composure After Swimming Four Kilometres to Save Family
McDonald's Shortens Breakfast Hours in Australia Due to Egg Shortage
We will protect them from the digital Wild West.’ Another country will ban social media for under-16s
Buddhist Monks Complete 2,300-Mile ‘Walk for Peace’ as They Enter Washington, D.C.
Heineken announces cut of 6,000 jobs due to declining beer demand
Trump’s ‘Act of Great Stupidity’ Comment on UK Chagos Deal Reverberates Through Diplomacy and Strategy
New U.S. filings say Jeffrey Epstein repaid Les Wexner one hundred million dollars after theft allegation
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledges 2012 visit to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island as lawmakers scrutinise past ties
Helsing and Stark Defence loitering-munition drones and Germany’s race to industrialise battlefield autonomy
UK orders deletion of Courtsdesk court-data archive, reigniting the fight over who controls public justice records
Trump Unveils TrumpRx to Deliver Lower Prescription Drug Prices to Americans
Trump Deletes Offensive Video Depicting Obamas as Primates After Sharp Bipartisan Backlash
Newly Released Epstein Files Reveal Persistent Efforts to Forge Ties with Russian Leadership and Seek a Meeting with Vladimir Putin
Netanyahu Heads to Washington for Strategic Talks with Trump on Iran Negotiations
The Implications of Expanding Voting Rights to Non-EU Foreign Residents in France
Ghislaine Maxwell to Testify Before US Congress on February 9
Al.com Acquired by Crypto.com Founder for $70 Million
Apple iPhone Lockdown Mode blocks FBI data access in journalist device seizure
White House Launches TrumpRx.gov to Deliver Lower Prescription Drug Prices to Americans
Foreign Governments and Corporations Spend Millions with Trump-Linked Lobbying Firm in Washington
Belgium: Man Charged with Rape After Faking Payment to Sex Worker
KPMG Urges Auditor to Relay AI Cost Savings
US and Iran to Begin Nuclear Talks in Oman
×