Cuba enacts emergency measures after largest power plant goes offline, leaving 10 million in the dark
In response to catastrophic blackouts lasting more than 12 hours per day for millions, Cuba’s government announced emergency measures, including the closure of non-essential workplaces on October 17, 2024. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stressed fuel shortages, poor infrastructure, and increased demand, all exacerbated by aftermath of Hurricane “Milton.”
Image credit: Rômulo Ferreira
Cuba’s national electrical grid failed on Friday morning after the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the largest and most efficient on the island, went offline, leaving around 10 million people without electricity.
In a desperate attempt to deal with an escalating electrical crisis affecting the entire island country, Prime Minister Marrero declared emergency measures that would be implemented by closing all non-essential workplaces in the vast state sector.
This decision for emergency measures comes as millions of residents have been experiencing blackouts lasting more than 12 hours a day, with many places outside the capital, Havana, receiving less than six hours of energy daily.
A variety of reasons contribute to Cuba’s energy dilemma. According to Prime Minister Marrero, the principal causes of the blackouts are decaying infrastructure, acute fuel shortages, and increased demand for electricity.
“The fuel shortage is the biggest factor,” Marrero said in a televised message.
Hurricane “Milton,” which swept over the region immediately before the government’s declaration, aggravated the problem by halting fuel supply to power plants with strong winds and high seas.
As a result, the island’s two major power plants, Antonio Guiteras and Felton, need to perform better and will require maintenance, further restricting electricity supply.
To address the current fuel shortages, Alfredo López general director of the Electric Union (UNE) announced that a ship carrying fuel oil is set to unload on Friday, which will be delivered to power plants, along with an additional 2 000 tons of diesel.
This is expected to improve the situation in the short term. However, Marrero indicated that long-term solutions involve eliminating dependence on fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy sources, with approximately 900 MW of renewable energy expected by 2025.
Despite these plans, the government is set to increase electricity rates for private businesses, reflecting a broader strategy to manage consumption and address the financial implications of the crisis.
Both Marrero and López acknowledged that the challenges could persist for over two years due to the ongoing deterioration of thermal power plants, the fuel crisis, and the nation’s economic struggles.
Citizens have been encouraged to adopt energy-saving measures and consider alternative energy sources like solar panels.
On X, President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, “I have advised the Prime Minister,@MMarreroCruz, together with executives of @EnergiaMinasCub, to inform the people in a special appearance today at 8:30 pm, about the energy emergency that the country is going through.”
He attributed the complexity of the crisis to the “economic war” led by the United States, which complicated fuel imports and access to essential resources.
The announcement was initially delayed due to alleged connection issues in Santiago de Cuba but was eventually broadcast, stressing the situation’s urgency.
The extensive scope of the outages stresses the gravity of the issue that is disrupting the lives of citizens already dealing with food, water, and gasoline shortages.
It has worsened in recent weeks, with a dramatic increase in power outages, even in a country used to energy shortages.
References:
1 Cuba implements emergency measures as millions go without electricity – Reuters – October 18, 2024
2 Cuba’s power grid fails, plunging country into darkness – Reuters – October 18, 2024
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