Cuba faced a nationwide blackout on Friday following the collapse of one of its major power plants, leaving millions of residents in the dark. The crisis struck after the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant ceased operations, triggering a total grid failure across the island and prompting the government to implement emergency measures, as reported by the Associated Press.
However, most of Cuba’s 10 million residents remained without power as officials from the grid operator UNE rushed to restart several oil-fired generation plants to restore electricity. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced the closure of schools and non-essential industries, sending most state workers home in an effort to conserve power.
Residents endured shortages of food, fuel, water, and medicine during the blackout. “The power went out at 8 in the morning and it is now 5 in the afternoon and there is no electricity anywhere,” said Luis González, a 73-year-old retiree in Havana.
During a televised address, Marrero linked the blackout to a “perfect storm” of old infrastructure, rising demand, and fuel shortages. He said, “The fuel shortage is the biggest factor,” pointing out problems with getting limited fuel from offshore boats to power plants, worsened by strong winds from Hurricane Milton. The government also blamed the US trade embargo and sanctions from the Trump administration for making it hard to get the fuel and spare parts needed for its oil-fired plants.
The electrical grid failure occurred just hours after the Antonio Guiteras plant, Cuba’s largest and most efficient, went offline. Officials are still investigating the cause of the collapse. In response to the blackout, the government activated emergency measures to cut power demand, including suspending classes and cancelling recreational activities. This left residents frustrated and anxious, with many confined to their homes in the oppressive heat. Brazilian tourist Carlos Roberto Julio expressed his frustration, saying, “We went to a restaurant and they had no food because there was no power, now we are also without internet.”
Despite the situation, the Cuban government insisted it was prioritising efforts to restore power. President Miguel Díaz-Canel wrote on X, “We are devoting absolute priority to addressing and solving this highly sensitive energy contingency. There will be no rest until its restoration.”
As Havana descended into darkness, some areas of the capital experienced flickers of light returning, primarily in major hospitals. Although the government began to restore power across the island following the widespread blackout, many Cubans continued to face challenges in their daily lives.
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