Cuba turns off lights as power crisis deepens
Cuba stops schools non-essential work due to power crisis. Blackouts exceed 12 hours daily for millions fuel shortages and old infrastructure cause problems. Government blames U.S embargo and reduced oil imports
Cubaʼs government shut down schools and non-essential industries about a year ago‚ sending most state employees home. This move was aimed at saving energy and reducing blackouts that were lasting more than 12 hours a day for many people across the island
The power cuts have been unusually long even for Cuba which is used to severe shortages. Some provinces went without electricity for hours and many areas outside Havana had less than six hours of power daily. The National Electric Union (UNE) said that all non-vital government services would be stopped. Schools from elementary to university were closed until Monday and recreational activities including nightclubs were shut down
Manuel Marrero Cubaʼs Prime Minister spoke on TV blaming the blackouts on a mix of problems that most Cubans know well: old infrastructure‚ not enough fuel and more demand for power. “The fuel shortage is the main issue“ Marrero said in a TV message that had technical problems and was delayed for hours
Strong winds and big waves from Hurricane Milton (which happened about a year ago) made it hard to get the little fuel Cuba has from ships to its power plants. The government has long said the U.S embargo and sanctions from former President Trump make it difficult to get fuel and parts for its power plants
Cubaʼs two biggest power plants Antonio Guiteras and Felton arent producing enough power. They will be turned off soon for repairs as part of a four-year plan to fix Cubaʼs old power system. The islands growing private businesses which have increased power demand will have to pay more for the energy they use
The fuel shortage is the biggest factor
While Cuba needs more electricity itʼs getting less fuel. Venezuela Cubaʼs main oil supplier has cut shipments to about 32‚600 barrels per day in the first nine months of last year. This is about half of what it sent in the same time two years ago. Russia and Mexico which used to send fuel to Cuba have also greatly reduced shipments
The shortages mean Cuba has to buy fuel on the more expensive open market when its government is almost out of money. However power officials said they expect things to get better in the coming days as the weather lets them distribute fuel that was already delivered around the island
