Cuba is restoring power in Havana following a nationwide blackout affecting 10 million people. Approximately 19% of the city has regained electricity, while key power plants remain offline. The outages stem from aging infrastructure and a U.S. trade embargo, prompting Cuba to seek renewable energy solutions like solar power with China’s assistance.
Cuba has begun restoring power to the capital, Havana, and surrounding provinces following a nationwide grid collapse, which affected approximately 10 million residents. On Sunday morning, about 19% of Havana’s electricity customers reported restored power, although full recovery timelines remain uncertain. The Ministry of Energy and Mines announced the activation of the Felton power plant, vital for restoring electricity in eastern provinces, while the Antonio Guinteras plant in Matanzas remains offline.
Residents across Havana are anxious about the spoiling of frozen food supplies after nearly 36 hours without electricity. The densely populated city, with a population of two million, has faced power outages since 8:15 p.m. on Friday evening. Only a limited number of tourists and businesses with generators managed to retain power during this crisis.
The grid failure was initiated by a short circuit on a transmission line at a Havana substation, leading to a total shutdown of power generation across the country. This incident marks the fourth nationwide blackout in Cuba since October. Cuba’s aging oil-fired power plants have struggled under decreasing oil supplies from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, leading to extended daily blackouts even before the latest crisis.
The Cuban government attributes these challenges to a U.S. trade embargo dating back to the Cold War and recent stricter sanctions under former President Donald Trump. In response, Cuba is initiating efforts to build solar farms with support from China to reduce reliance on outdated oil-powered generation.
Cuba’s ongoing energy crisis stems from a combination of aging infrastructure and geopolitical factors. The recent nationwide blackout highlights the vulnerabilities of the electric grid, which has faced repeated failures. The government’s initiatives to transition to renewable energy, particularly solar power, could be crucial in addressing the current power shortages and reducing reliance on antiquated systems. As recovery progresses, the situation remains precarious for many residents in Havana and beyond.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
