Cuba has regained some electricity following a major power outage that left millions in the dark. The Cuban government reported on Saturday that there was progress in restoring power after a significant failure at one of the country’s main power plants plunged the island into darkness for two days.
Energy minister Vicente de la O Levy confirmed that there were 500 megawatts of energy in the electrical grid early Saturday, with several substations in the west now having electricity. Two thermoelectric power plants are back online, and two more are expected to resume operations in the coming hours.
While the Antonio Guiteras plant’s failure on Friday impacted the entire national system, Cuba has other power plants whose status remains uncertain. Authorities have not provided a timeline for when the blackout will be completely resolved.
The unprecedented blackout prompted emergency measures from the Cuban government to reduce electricity demand. This included suspending classes, closing state-owned workplaces, and cancelling nonessential services. The outage, affecting 1.64 gigawatts during peak hours, was exacerbated by increased demand from air conditioners in homes and businesses, as well as issues with aging power plants and fuel shortages.
The government is also considering changes to electricity rates for small- and medium-sized companies, which have become more prevalent since being authorised by the communist government in 2021. The outage, the most severe in recent memory aside from those caused by severe weather events like hurricanes, underscores the challenges facing Cuba in maintaining a reliable power supply.
As the nation works towards resolving the power crisis, residents and businesses are hopeful for a swift recovery to normalcy. Despite the challenges, the Cuban spirit remains resilient in the face of adversity.