Cuba: Cuba is grappling with a nationwide blackout after its immense power plant, Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas, went offline on 18th October, affecting power to the island’s 10 million locals. The energy ministry ensured the collapse of the national grid at around 11:00 local time (15:00 GMT) and cautioned that the timeline for restoring electricity remains uncertain.
The country has had steady months of lengthy blackouts, exacerbated by deteriorating infrastructure and fuel shortages. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero declared an “energy emergency”, mentioning the fuel crisis as the main contributor to the ongoing power failures. The government has since shut down schools and non-essential services and advised citizens to save electricity during peak hours.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez has made restoring power a top priority, stating that, “There will be no rest until power is restored.” While officials are labouring to re-establish electricity generation, power plants are only in the initial stages of restarting, according to Lazara Guerra, head of electricity supply at the energy ministry.
The blackout has left many Cubans working to cope with sweltering heat and disrupted daily life, from food spoilage due to the lack of refrigeration to halted transportation. Frustrations are mounting, with some drawing comparisons to the 2021 mass protests triggered by prolonged power outages.
Eloy Fon, an 80-year-old Havana resident said that, “The fragility of our electricity system is on full display.” Similarly, Barbara Lopez, a digital content creator, voiced her frustration, stating that, “It’s the worst I’ve seen in 47 years.”
Authorities are bracing for the potential public unrest that extended blackouts may incite, as many Cubans resume to voice their dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the crisis.
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