Cuba Restores Power to Havana After Major Electrical Outage

Cuba has restored power to much of Havana after a significant blackout affecting 10 million people. The national grid was reconnected following a major failure caused by a substation issue. Although two-thirds of Havana’s clients regained electricity, daily generation is still low, leading to ongoing power shortages.

Cuba successfully reconnected its national electrical grid by Sunday evening, restoring power to a significant portion of Havana, following an island-wide outage that affected 10 million individuals. Officials disclosed that roughly two-thirds of clients in the capital regained electricity, a number expected to grow overnight as the situation stabilizes.

The outage began Friday evening due to a malfunction at a substation, causing widespread power generation failure across the island. The capital, Havana, known for its dense population and tourism, experienced extensive disruptions, with commerce stalled and public services rendered inoperative.

By late Sunday, Cuba’s two largest oil-fired power plants, Felton and Antonio Guiteras, were operational, marking a critical step towards power restoration. Approximately 300 kilometers away, the westernmost province of Pinar del Río also received power just before nightfall.

This incident represents the fourth nationwide blackout in Cuba since October, reflecting the ongoing energy crisis exacerbated by diminishing oil imports from key partners like Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico. Prior to the blackout, daily blackouts had been common, with some exceeding 20 hours.

Despite recent restorations, generated electricity still catered to only one-third of the usual demand, leaving many areas without power. Educational institutions in certain provinces will remain closed until Tuesday to ensure adequate provisions for students.

The Cuban government attributes the energy challenges to a longstanding U.S. trade embargo further aggravated by recent sanctions imposed during President Donald Trump’s administration. In light of this crisis, Cuba is focusing on developing solar energy farms with Chinese assistance to reduce reliance on outdated oil-fired power generation.

In summary, Cuba has made significant progress in restoring electricity to much of Havana after a widespread blackout caused by a power grid failure. While power has been restored to many, the generation levels remain below typical demand, suggesting ongoing challenges for the energy sector. The government continues to navigate the impacts of international sanctions while exploring renewable energy solutions to enhance its infrastructure.

Original Source: gazette.com