Cuba recently experienced a major power outage that left millions of people without electricity for two days. The Energy Minister, Vicente de la O Levy, stated that some electricity has been restored to the island, with 500 megawatts in the electrical grid compared to the usual 3 gigawatts generated. He also mentioned that several substations in the west now have electricity, and two thermoelectric power plants are back online with two more expected to resume operations soon.
The blackout, which began on Thursday evening and affected half of Cuba, escalated on Friday morning when the entire island was plunged into darkness. Havana’s electricity company reported that a part of its western system was disconnected, leaving some areas of the city without power once again. The impact of the blackout extended beyond lighting, affecting services like water supply that rely on electricity to operate pumps.
This blackout is said to be the worst in Cuba in two years, with the previous one occurring after a category 3 hurricane damaged power installations. The current blackout comes amidst worsening electricity service, with homes experiencing daily outages for hours. While the Antonio Guiteras plant’s failure on Friday affected the national system, it remains unclear whether other power plants in Cuba are functional.
Emergency measures have been announced by the Cuban government to reduce electricity demand, including suspending classes, closing state-owned workplaces, and canceling nonessential services. During peak hours, 1.64 gigawatts went offline, about half of the total demand at the time. The outage was initially caused by increased demand from air conditioners in small and medium-sized companies and residences, exacerbated by breakdowns in old thermoelectric plants and fuel shortages.
Authorities are also considering changes to electricity rates for small- and medium-sized companies, which have become more prevalent since being authorized by the government in 2021. The Cuban people are facing challenges due to the ongoing blackout, with many adapting to life without electricity. The government is working to restore power and address the underlying issues that led to this massive outage.
