Another power plant failure plunges Cuba into darkness

For the second time in less than 24  hours, Cuba’s national grid collapsed on Saturday morning. In response, the government said it was working again to reestablish electrical service across the island.

The country’s top electricity official, Lazaro Guerra, speaking on a morning news programme said that another grid malfunction in western Cuba had forced technicians to begin anew connecting three important power plants to the system, temporarily stalling progress.

“I can not assure you that we will be able to complete linking the system today, but we are estimating that there should be important progress today,” Guerra said.

Prior to Guerra’s statement, CubaDebate, one of the island’s state-run media outlets, said the grid operator, UNE, had reported a “total disconnection of the national electro-energetic system.”

Cuba’s electrical grid first failed around midday on Friday after one of the island`s largest power plants shut down, suddenly leaving more than 10 million without power.

Even before the grid’s collapse, an electricity shortfall on Friday had forced Cuba’s communist-run government to send non-essential state workers home and cancel school classes for children as it sought to conserve fuel for generation.

Cuba’s government has blamed weeks of worsening blackouts – often 10 to 20 hours a day across much of the island – on deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand.

Strong winds that began with Hurricane Milton last week had also complicated the island’s ability to deliver scarce fuel from boats offshore to feed its power plants.

In addition, fuel deliveries to the island have dropped off significantly this year, as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, once key suppliers have reduced their exports to Cuba.

Cuba’s government also blames the U.S. trade embargo, as well as sanctions under then-President Donald Trump, for ongoing difficulties in acquiring fuel and spare parts to operate and maintain its oil-fired plants.
However, the  United States on Friday denied any role in the grid collapse in Cuba.

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct. 19, CMC
CMCcu/kb/2024

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