Cuba begins gradual power restoration after island-wide blackout

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Cuba restored limited power to parts of its electrical grid by Friday evening after a countrywide blackout earlier in the day caused by the collapse of one of its major power plants.

Although power returned to some areas in the capital, Havana, the majority of the island’s 10 million residents remained in the dark by nightfall.

The Antonio Guiteras power plant, Cuba’s largest and most efficient oil-fired facility, went offline around midday, triggering the blackout.

The state-run utility Unión Eléctrica (UNE) expressed optimism that power could be partially restored overnight by restarting at least five of its oil-fired plants.

The goal was to bring electricity to more areas of the country as soon as possible.

The outage compounded an already difficult situation for Cubans, who have been dealing with severe power shortages for weeks.

As part of efforts to manage the energy crisis, the Communist government shut down schools, non-essential industries, and recreational activities, including nightclubs, while sending many state workers home.

Officials did not immediately disclose the cause of the power plant failure, but Cuba’s leadership has frequently blamed deteriorating infrastructure and a worsening fuel shortage.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero highlighted this fuel shortage as the most significant factor, while also attributing the worsening crisis to growing demand for electricity.

Residents in Havana endured a hot and frustrating day, with most commercial activity at a standstill.

“We went to a restaurant and they had no food because there was no power, now we are also without internet,” said Brazilian tourist Carlos Roberto Julio, who had recently arrived in the city. “In two days, we have already had several problems.”

Cuba’s energy crisis has been exacerbated by declining fuel imports from Venezuela, its largest oil supplier, which dropped to an average of 32,600 barrels per day in the first nine months of 2024, compared to 60,000 barrels during the same period in 2023.

Venezuela, facing its own refinery challenges, has been prioritizing domestic needs, leaving Cuba scrambling to buy more expensive fuel on the spot market.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has pointed to US sanctions and the decades-long trade embargo as aggravating factors, claiming these measures have made it more difficult to acquire fuel and necessary spare parts.

“The complex scenario is caused primarily by the intensification of the economic war and energy persecution by the United States,” Díaz-Canel wrote on social media.

However, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council dismissed those claims, stating that the US was not responsible for the blackout or the overall energy situation in Cuba.

A State Department official added that the U.S. was monitoring the humanitarian impact but noted that Cuba had not requested assistance.

For many Cubans, power outages have become a frustratingly familiar occurrence.

One resident, Carlos Manuel Pedre, seemed resigned to the blackout, saying he passed the time playing dominoes with friends. "In the times we're living in, the most logical entertainment is dominoes," he said. "We're in total crisis."

Cuba’s government is now racing to restore power while confronting the broader challenges of crumbling infrastructure, scarce fuel, and a struggling economy.

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