Cuba Faces Widespread Blackout Following Power Plant Breakdown

Cuba is facing its most severe economic crisis since the Soviet Union's collapse, characterized by soaring inflation.

Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Friday following the failure of its largest power plant, according to the Ministry of Energy. This came after weeks of extended outages across the country, already grappling with severe economic difficulties.

Lazaro Guerra, the Ministry's director general of electricity, confirmed that "the system was left without power nationwide" due to the unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras power plant. The collapse left the island’s 11 million people without electricity, and authorities are working to restore power.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero declared an "energy emergency" on Thursday after weeks of disruptions, with some provinces enduring power cuts lasting up to 20 hours a day. He also suspended non-essential public sector activities to prioritize electricity for homes.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated on social media platform X that the government would "not rest" until the power was restored and the energy crisis resolved.

Worst Crisis in 30 Years

Cuba's energy woes have been exacerbated by difficulties in securing fuel for its power plants, a problem Cuban authorities attribute to the tightening of the decades-old US trade embargo under former President Donald Trump.

The country is facing its worst economic crisis in 30 years, comparable to the post-Soviet era collapse in the early 1990s. Soaring inflation and severe shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and even water are widespread. While the government primarily blames the US embargo, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly on the tourism sector, have also worsened the situation.

Cuba’s power generation relies on eight aging thermal plants, many of which are in disrepair or undergoing maintenance, as well as seven leased floating plants from Turkish companies and various generators. In 2022, daily hours-long power outages plagued the island, with a nationwide blackout occurring on September 27, triggered by Hurricane Ian.

Although conditions improved in 2023, the maintenance of the Antonio Guiteras plant, located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Havana, caused additional rolling blackouts in March of this year.

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Source - NDTV‍