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The Guardian World1 min read
‘Absolutely no fuel’: Cuba hit by blackouts, protests amid power outages
TL;DR
Cuba faces severe power outages as fuel reserves run out, leading to protests in Havana. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy confirmed the country has no fuel, oil, or diesel available.
Key points
- Cuba is experiencing worsening power outages.
- The government announced it has run out of fuel reserves.
- Protests erupted in neighborhoods around Havana.
- Energy Minister confirmed no fuel, oil, or diesel is available.
- The blockade is impacting Cuba's fuel import capabilities.
Mentioned in this story
CubaVicente de la O Levy
Cuba has been hit by worsening power outages after the island’s communist government said fuel reserves had run out, as rare protests erupted in neighbourhoods around the capital, Havana.
Large parts of eastern Cuba were plunged into darkness on Thursday in the latest round of nationwide electricity shutdowns, while demonstrations over the blackouts broke out in western areas near Havana.
“We have absolutely no fuel, oil, and absolutely no diesel,” Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy said during a late Wednesday news conference.
“The only thing we have is gas from our own wells, whose production has increased, and domestic crude oil, whose production is also rising,” he said, adding that Cuba was struggling to secure fuel imports.
“The situation is very tense. The impact of the blockade is causing us significant harm, and we are still not receiving fuel,” he added.
The island, home to about 10 million people, is relying on limited domestic fuel production and solar energy to keep parts of the grid operating, but the electrical system has become increasingly fragile.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the worsening crisis on US sanctions.
“The situation of the National Electric System has become particularly tense in recent days,” Diaz-Canel said in a statement on Wednesday, saying that the country was expected to face a deficit of more than 2,000 megawatts during the evening’s peak demand hours.
Diaz-Canel also said about 1,100 megawatts of power generation had already been lost on Wednesday due to fuel shortages, which he described as the result of a “genocidal energy blockade” imposed by the US and threats of tariffs against countries supplying fuel to Cuba.
A resident of San Miguel del Padron, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Havana, told the AFP news agency that people had protested the power cuts by banging pots and pans on Wednesday evening.
Several other similar small protests were held in neighbourhoods across the capital to express widespread frustration, according to accounts gathered by AFP.
“Turn on the lights!” shouted residents in Playa, a district in the western part of the capital.
Q&A
What caused the power outages in Cuba?
The power outages in Cuba were caused by the government's announcement that fuel reserves have run out.
Where are the protests occurring in Cuba?
Protests are occurring in neighborhoods around the capital, Havana, and in western areas of the island.
What did Cuba's Energy Minister say about the fuel situation?
Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy stated that Cuba has absolutely no fuel, oil, or diesel available.
How is the blockade affecting Cuba's fuel imports?
The blockade is significantly harming Cuba's ability to secure fuel imports, contributing to the ongoing energy crisis.
