Cuba is experiencing a severe electricity crisis following the failure of one of its largest power plants, resulting in around 10 million residents being left without power.
The shutdown of the national power grid occurred on Friday morning, prompting President Miguel Diaz-Canel to assure citizens that resolving the issue is a top priority. “There will be no rest until it is restored,” he stated, as measures were implemented to conserve energy, including the closure of schools and non-essential industrial sites.
The crisis deepened shortly before midday when the Antonio Guiteras power plant went offline, leading to a complete grid failure. Officials have not provided details on the cause of the shutdown or an estimated timeline for restoring power. All non-essential government services, schools, and universities will remain closed until at least Sunday, along with cultural and recreational venues.
Despite the widespread outages, some residents and businesses, like restaurants, maintain private generators to provide power. The Guantanamo Bay naval base, located on the island’s southeastern coast, also remains unaffected due to its independent power supply.
The ongoing situation follows recent rolling blackouts across the nation. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attributed the widespread issues to a mix of factors, including aging infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increased demand from air conditioning units during the hot season. He remarked that the fuel shortage is the primary concern in a televised statement.
Residents in Havana expressed their frustration to reporters. One man remarked, “This is incredible. I don’t see a solution to this problem.” A woman added, “It really worries me that we may not yet be at the bottom of this electricity crisis.”
Brazilian tourist Carlos Roberto Julio shared his disappointment, saying, “We went to a restaurant and they had no food because there was no power. Now we are also without internet. In two days, we have already encountered several problems.”
Compounding these issues, strong winds from Hurricane Milton last week hindered fuel deliveries necessary for the operation of power plants. The U.S. trade embargo, along with sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump, have further contributed to the shortage of fuel and spare parts required for repairs in Cuba’s energy sector.
In response to the crisis, President Diaz-Canel indicated that the ongoing economic challenges are largely due to U.S. efforts to restrict essential resources, making fuel imports difficult. However, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council countered these claims, stating that “the United States is not to blame for today’s blackout or the overall energy situation in Cuba.”
Moreover, Cuba’s primary oil supplier, Venezuela, has reduced its shipments to the island this year amid its own internal shortages, while Russia and Mexico have also significantly cut back their supplies to the Caribbean nation.
Credit: Sky News
