October 20th 2024.
Over the weekend in Havana, the Cuban government reported that some electricity had been restored following a massive blackout that left millions without power for two days. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy shared on social media that the country currently has 500 megawatts in its electrical grid, a significant decrease from the usual 3 gigawatts that are generated. However, he did mention that several substations in the west now have electricity and that two thermoelectric power plants are back in operation, with two more expected to resume soon.
The blackout, which initially affected half of Cuba on Thursday evening and then the entire island on Friday morning, was caused by a failure at a power plant. Havana's electricity company explained that a part of their system was disconnected after one of the plants that was delivering service went offline. This has resulted in some areas of the city experiencing another round of blackouts, with the total megawatts dropping from 500 to 370.
The streets of Cuba's capital were quiet on Saturday, with only a few cars passing by after a night of using candles and lamps for light. The impact of the blackout goes beyond just lighting, as services like water supply also rely on electricity to function. This isn't the first time Cuba has experienced a major power outage, as a Category 3 hurricane caused similar damage two years ago and it took days for the government to restore power. This year, some homes have been without electricity for up to eight hours a day.
While it's unclear if all of Cuba's power plants are currently operational, officials have not given an estimated time for when the blackout will be fully resolved. This outage has been particularly challenging for a country already facing economic hardships, as the government announced emergency measures to reduce electricity demand. This includes suspending school and university classes, shutting down non-essential services, and even considering changes to electricity rates for small and medium-sized businesses.
The cause of the blackout has been attributed to the increased demand from businesses and residential air conditioners, as well as breakdowns in old thermoelectric plants that haven't been properly maintained. The lack of fuel to operate some facilities has also contributed to the issue. As the Cuban government works to address and resolve the blackout, the people of Cuba are left to cope with the impact on their daily lives. We will continue to provide updates on the situation in Latin America and the Caribbean on our website.
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