Cuba's power grid collapses and plunges eastern provinces into a major blackout
TL;DR
Cuba's power grid collapsed early Thursday, causing a major blackout in the eastern provinces. The failure adds to ongoing power issues faced by residents in Havana amid a prolonged economic crisis.
Key points
- Cuba's national energy grid suffered a major failure
- Eastern provinces plunged into a blackout
- Residents in Havana also face ongoing power outages
- The power grid has eroded due to economic crisis
- U.S. energy blockade exacerbates the situation
People look at a barricade set up by residents protesting against prolonged power outages in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday. Ramon Espinosa/AP
Ramon Espinosa/AP
HAVANA — Cuba's national energy grid suffered a major failure early Thursday that severed power to the island's eastern provinces, authorities said, as residents in the capital Havana faced ongoing blackouts.
Cuba's aging power grid has eroded in recent years as it faces a prolonged economic crisis, recently made worse by a U.S. energy blockade of the island, where daily life can be an ordeal for many of the country's 10 million people.
The state-run Electric Union said the collapse had stripped power from all eastern provinces from Guantánamo to Ciego de Ávila, and that crews were working to restore power, but it did not give an estimate for how long it would take.
The previous day, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel had described the energy situation as "tense" after supplies of oil delivered by a Russian vessel in late March ran out. Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy.
Russia announced plans to send a second fuel ship to Cuba in early April. According to Russian news reports, the oil tanker left the Russian Baltic port of Vysotsk in January, but has been stuck in the same place in the Atlantic Ocean for the last several weeks.
Power outages in Havana, where authorities have been rationing power, stretched to 24 consecutive hours on Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, Associated Press journalists saw residents in numerous neighborhoods banging pots and pans and setting fire to trash cans to protest the blackouts. Hours later, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy appeared on Cuban television to describe the energy situation as "critical."
Cuba's power grid is crumbling, but the government also has blamed the outages on U.S. sanctions after President Donald Trump in January warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. The Trump administration has demanded that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions.
The blackouts have led to reduced work hours and food spoilage as refrigerators stop working. In some cases, hospitals have canceled surgeries.
Q&A
What caused the major blackout in Cuba's eastern provinces?
The blackout was caused by a significant failure of Cuba's national energy grid, which has been deteriorating due to economic challenges.
How many people are affected by the power outages in Cuba?
Approximately 10 million people in Cuba are affected by ongoing power outages, particularly in the eastern provinces and Havana.
What impact does the U.S. energy blockade have on Cuba's power grid?
The U.S. energy blockade has worsened the economic crisis in Cuba, contributing to the deterioration of the aging power grid and frequent blackouts.
