A catastrophic failure of Cuba’s ageing power grid has plunged millions into darkness, with rolling blackouts now exceeding 18 hours daily across the island. The crisis, rooted in decades of infrastructure decay compounded by US sanctions and fuel shortages, has triggered what humanitarian groups call a ‘full-scale public health emergency’. Hospitals are running on backup generators, water pumps have stopped, and food spoilage is rampant. In a rare geopolitical pivot, the UK has announced an emergency aid package worth £5 million, including solar-powered water purification units, medical supplies, and technical assistance for grid repair.
This is not merely a blackout. It is a cascading systems failure. When the lights go out, so does refrigeration for insulin, neonatal incubators, and vaccine storage. The grid’s collapse exposes the fragility of centralised energy systems in a warming world. For Cuba, a nation already battered by hurricanes and economic isolation, this is a breaking point.
The UK’s pledge is significant both in substance and symbolism. For decades, UK foreign policy aligned with the US embargo. Now, Boris Johnson’s successor government appears to be charting a more independent course, framing this as a ‘humanitarian duty’ rather than a political statement. The aid will be channelled through UNICEF and the Cuban Red Cross, avoiding the central government’s sclerotic bureaucracy.
Yet, some caution against triumphalism. Sending solar panels without battery storage or trained technicians is like handing a smartphone to someone without electricity to charge it. The real challenge is systemic: Cuba’s grid is so degraded that even generous aid may only prevent collapse, not restore normalcy. The blackouts also raise an uncomfortable question for the West: is selective humanitarianism enough when trade embargoes themselves contribute to this vulnerability?
From a tech perspective, this crisis underscores the need for ‘digital sovereignty’ in critical infrastructure. Cuba cannot modernise its grid without access to components subject to US export controls. This is a stark reminder that in the 21st century, energy poverty is not just about resources but about control over the means of production. The UK’s aid, while welcome, must be a catalyst for a broader rethinking of how we build resilient, decentralised power systems in the Global South.
As I write this, the blackouts continue. The humanitarian toll will be measured in lives lost, not just GDP. The UK’s pledge is a start, but without systemic change, the lights will go out again.
