On May 17, residents of Havana, Cuba, navigated through a dimly lit street as the country faced a significant blackout, part of a troubling trend in recent months. This blackout was triggered by an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, located east of the capital.
The failure of this key facility led to the complete disconnection of Cuba’s national electric grid, according to announcements from government officials. This situation highlights the ongoing energy crisis impacting the island.
The Cuban government reported that the electric grid went entirely offline at 11 a.m. local time on Friday, following the issues at the Antonio Guiteras plant. In response to this energy emergency, the Ministry of Energy and Mines communicated via social media that efforts were underway to restore power.
The Cuban Electric Union has been actively working on the restoration process, indicating that immediate action was necessary to address the crisis affecting the population.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz emphasized the government’s commitment to resolving the energy crisis quickly, stating on social media that they “will not rest until it is restored.”
Cuba Faces Severe Energy Crisis as Blackouts Intensify Amid Infrastructure Failures
By the afternoon, partial restoration efforts were underway, with the energy ministry reporting the reactivation of natural gas transmission to supply idled thermoelectric plants. Additionally, micro-electric grids were being restored in various locations, including Guantanamo and Granma, signaling a proactive approach to mitigating the effects of the blackout.
This blackout is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of rolling blackouts that have plagued Cuba for months. Officials have attributed these power outages to several factors, including a lack of fuel, deteriorating infrastructure, and increased energy demand.
In response, the government has implemented household power consumption limits and suspended non-essential work activities, encouraging remote work arrangements to manage the strain on the electric grid.
The Cuban energy crisis has been exacerbated by logistical challenges, such as delays in fuel oil shipments caused by Hurricane Milton, which further complicated the distribution of resources. With seven of the country’s eight thermoelectric plants either out of service or undergoing maintenance, the situation remains precarious.
The surge in residential energy consumption, particularly due to the arrival of over 100,000 new air conditioning units in the past year, has put additional pressure on an already aging electric grid, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address the underlying issues.
