Cuba experienced a third nationwide power outage on Tuesday. The incident intensified a months-long energy shortage caused by a U.S. oil restriction.

The 9.5 million‑person island has endured a six‑month restriction on imported oil as part of a U.S. policy limiting oil shipments. The country's electrical grid, built in the 1960s and repeatedly upgraded, has struggled to maintain service under the reduced fuel supply.

The outage left residents without electricity for several hours, preventing the use of cooling equipment during high temperatures. Cuban officials said the blackout resulted from a failure in the national grid and a shortage of generation capacity. Energy analysts noted that the grid has suffered from underinvestment and aging equipment, conditions that predate the current restriction.

The government has not announced a timetable for restoring full service. The duration of the oil restriction remains unclear, leaving the long‑term impact on the nation's power infrastructure uncertain.