Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout on Friday, October 18, after the collapse of one of its largest power plants, Antonio Guiteras. The plant, located in Matanzas, went offline around midday, causing a countrywide grid failure and leaving the island’s 10 million residents without electricity. While authorities restored power to limited parts of the capital, Havana, by the evening, the majority of the population remained in darkness. The outage comes as Cuba grapples with a severe energy crisis, marked by deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and economic challenges.
Aging Infrastructure and Fuel Shortages Compound the Crisis
Cuba’s energy problems have been years in the making, with its aging oil-fired power plants and electrical grid in desperate need of maintenance. The Communist-run government, facing financial constraints, has struggled to maintain the decades-old infrastructure. In recent months, the situation has worsened due to a sharp decline in fuel imports from Venezuela, Cuba’s main oil supplier. Shipments from Venezuela have halved, dropping from 60,000 barrels per day in 2023 to just over 30,000 barrels this year.
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With reduced supplies from traditional allies like Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, Cuba has been forced to rely on more expensive fuel bought on the global spot market, further straining its already fragile economy.
Efforts to Mitigate the Blackout
In an effort to manage the crisis, Cuban officials took preemptive measures earlier in the week, temporarily closing schools, non-essential industries, and recreational activities like nightclubs to conserve electricity. State workers were sent home to reduce strain on the grid. Despite these efforts, the sudden shutdown of Antonio Guiteras triggered a complete grid collapse.
Manuel Marrero, Cuba’s prime minister, highlighted the severity of the energy situation, noting that the country had essentially “paralyzed” parts of its economy to save power. Yet, these steps proved insufficient to prevent the blackout, underscoring the deep-rooted issues within the country’s energy sector.
Government Response
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel attributed the blackout and broader energy crisis to the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, which has complicated Cuba’s ability to acquire fuel and spare parts for power plants. The embargo, in place since the Cold War, limits Cuba’s access to financing for oil purchases and has led to a reliance on an outdated fleet of oil tankers.
However, U.S. officials rejected these claims, with a spokesperson from the White House National Security Council stating that the U.S. was not responsible for Cuba’s grid failure. Although the embargo may complicate Cuba’s situation, many experts believe the primary issues stem from the country’s internal economic mismanagement and outdated infrastructure.
Daily Life Disrupted as Blackouts Persist
For millions of Cubans, power outages have become a daily challenge. In some provinces, residents face blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day. The recent blackout, however, has amplified their frustration, with many left without food, water, or internet access. Hospitals in Havana were among the few places to regain power on Friday night.
The crisis has triggered public discontent, though protests remain rare in the authoritarian state. Some, like Havana resident Carlos Manuel Pedre, have taken to simple pastimes like playing dominoes to pass the time, while others fear the situation will only worsen.
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Cuba’s government has acknowledged the need for long-term solutions to its energy crisis. Investments are being made to expand renewable energy sources, particularly solar power. Plans are underway to build 26 solar farms across the island, with the goal of generating one-third of the country’s energy demand through renewables by 2031. However, with the current economic crisis, progress remains slow, and in the near term, Cuba will continue to rely on its outdated power plants.
