NATIONWIDE BLACKOUT: Cuba Plunged into Darkness Amid Economic Crisis
Havana, Cuba – In a devastating blow to the Caribbean nation, Cuba’s largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras, shut down unexpectedly on Friday, plunging the entire island into a nationwide blackout. The sudden collapse of the power grid has brought life to a grinding halt in the communist country, which is already reeling from weeks of extended power outages and economic hardships.
The widespread blackouts, lasting up to 20 hours a day in some provinces, prompted Prime Minister Manuel Marrero to declare an "energy emergency" on Thursday. In response, the government suspended all non-essential public services and prioritized electricity supply to homes, schools, and essential facilities.
Schools across the country have been closed until Monday, while authorities in Havana assured that hospitals and other critical facilities, powered by generators, would remain operational.
This latest power crisis has sparked widespread frustration and anger among Cubans, who have been battling chronic blackouts for three months. The national energy shortfall has risen to nearly 50% of the island’s needs, exacerbating the country’s economic woes.
"We’re living day-to-day with no reserves, no sustainance. This is crazy," lamented 80-year-old retiree Eloy Fon in central Havana.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel vowed that the government would "not rest" until the power is restored, blaming the situation on Cuba’s difficulties in acquiring fuel for its power plants, which he attributed to the tightening of the six-decade-long US trade embargo under former President Donald Trump.
However, analysts point to the country’s worsening economic crisis, marked by sky-high inflation and shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and even water. The situation has prompted over 700,000 Cubans to emigrate to the United States between January 2022 and August 2024.
As Cuba struggles to bolster its grid, the island has leased seven floating power plants from Turkish companies and installed diesel-powered generators to supplement its power supply.
In a disturbing echo of 2021, when blackouts sparked rare public protests, Cubans are again taking to the streets to voice their frustration. Will this crisis be the catalyst for change, or will it push the nation further into the darkness?
Cuba’s Energy Crisis: A Timeline
- 2021: Blackouts spark public protests, with thousands taking to the streets, shouting "We are hungry" and "Freedom!"
- 2022: Months of daily power outages culminate in a nationwide blackout on September 27, caused by Hurricane Ian
- 2024: Cuba leases seven floating power plants from Turkish companies and installs diesel-powered generators to bolster its grid
- October 18, 2024: Antonio Guiteras power plant shuts down, causing a nationwide blackout
Photos:
- A woman boils water during a nationwide blackout in Matanzas, Cuba, on October 18, 2024. (Photo by Antonio LEVI / AFP)
- The Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital powers up with electricity during a nationwide blackout in Havana on October 18, 2024. (Photo by Adalberto ROQUE / AFP)
- Cubans chat at night on a street during a nationwide blackout in Havana on October 18, 2024. (Photo by Adalberto ROQUE / AFP)
- A few buildings in Havana are seen with electricity during a nationwide blackout on October 18, 2024. (Photo by Yamil LAGE / AFP)
Social Media:
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- Hashtags: #Cuba #EnergyCrisis #Blackout #EconomicCrisis #Sustainability
Related Stories:
- US Trade Embargo: A Catalyst for Cuba’s Economic Crisis?
- Cuba’s Economic Woes: A Deep Dive into the Country’s Challenges
- How Can Cuba Address its Energy Crisis? Experts Weigh In
