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Cuban Prime Minister Marrero Cruz Begins Crucial Phase of Economic Reform Amid Energy Crisis
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz told the National Assembly that the most challenging phase of the 2026 economic reform package is now beginning. Of the 121 transformations approved for June‑July, 110 have been ratified – 90.9 % of the plan – while five are partially underway and the remainder will be submitted for approval by week’s end.
A new decree‑law expands the powers of state‑owned enterprises, allowing them to set their own salary systems, determine prices and tariffs, make investments and terminate employee contracts. Simultaneously, Decree 160 removes 46 prohibitions for non‑state economic actors and relaxes another 36, opening the market to more private micro‑, small‑ and medium‑size enterprises.
The reforms are being pursued in a deepening energy crisis. Cuba’s ageing Soviet‑era power plants and U.S. sanctions have produced daily blackouts of more than 20 hours in Havana and over 48 hours elsewhere. A record outage is expected to disconnect up to 74 % of the island at peak demand, further straining health services and public‑health outcomes.
Entities
CUPET · Cuba · Cuban Parliament · Cuban state enterprises · Decree 160 · Donald Trump · Executive Order 14380 · Manuel Marrero Cruz · National Assembly of People's Power · Raúl Castro · UNE (Unión Eléctrica) · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A 2025 study of 415 Cuban adults found 55.4% severe depression, 66% severe anxiety and 65.8% severe stress. www.notiulti.com · www.archyworldys.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cuba's electricity generation relies on seven aging Soviet‑era thermal power plants built over four decades. www.notiulti.com · www.archyworldys.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Mexico suspended its oil shipments to Cuba due to United States penalties. www.archyworldys.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately ten million Cubans were without power during the July 6, 2026 national grid collapse. www.archyworldys.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cuba experiences daily power outages of more than 20 hours in Havana and over 48 hours in other regions. www.notiulti.com · www.archyworldys.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] U.S. sanctions, including Executive Order 14380 signed by President Donald Trump, targeted oil supplies to Cuba and state oil firm CUPET. www.notiulti.com · www.archyworldys.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026 abruptly ended Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba. www.archyworldys.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Maternal mortality in Cuba rose to 44.1 per 100,000 live births in 2025. lavozdelprm.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] A new decree‑law expands powers of state‑owned enterprises to set salaries, prices and terminate contracts. www.cubaheadlines.com · www.perlavision.cu
- [● 2 SOURCES] Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz said the most challenging phase of the economic reform package is beginning. www.cubaheadlines.com · www.perlavision.cu
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A record blackout is expected to cut power to 74 % of Cuba at peak demand, with generation capacity of 850 MW against a demand of 3,200 MW. robertocavada.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] 110 of the 121 measures planned for June and July have been approved, representing 90.9 % of the plan. www.cubaheadlines.com · www.perlavision.cu