Cuba Faces Historic Power Outage Amid Crumbling Infrastructure

The warnings from experts had been clear and consistent for years: Cuba’s power grid was teetering on the brink of failure. The system relied heavily on aging power plants that had been in operation for nearly five decades, combined with a dependence on imported fuel that the financially strained Communist government could scarcely afford.

On Friday morning, the dire predictions materialized as the entire island experienced its most extensive blackout in three decades, reminiscent of the days following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which had once been Cuba’s main benefactor and fuel supplier.

By Friday night, Cuban energy officials managed to restore power to certain areas of the island, albeit briefly. However, early Saturday morning, the state utility company reported yet another “total disconnection” of the power grid, marking the second such incident in less than 24 hours.

In an effort to reassure the anxious public, government officials claimed that they were working diligently to restore power across the island over the weekend. However, they also admitted the uncertainty of the situation. “We are estimating there should be significant progress today,” said Lazaro Guerra, the electricity director for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, during an interview broadcast on state television.

“But I cannot assure you that we will be able to have the system fully operational today,” he added, highlighting the challenges that lay ahead.

As the situation unfolded, drivers in Havana found themselves waiting impatiently for gas pumps to restart at local stations, underscoring the pervasive impact of the blackout on daily life across the island.

Image Credit: Adalberto Roque/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images