Cuba Faces Severe Power Crisis Amid Hurricane Oscar’s Impact
Cuba’s capital, Havana, found itself in a state of paralysis on Monday as the island braced for the fourth consecutive night of significant blackouts. These outages have sparked a series of protests, prompting the government to issue a stern warning that any demonstrations will be met with punishment. Hurricane Oscar made landfall on Sunday and traversed the eastern coast of the island as a tropical storm on Monday, resulting in at least six fatalities. The tumultuous night saw protests erupt in urban neighborhoods such as Santos Suárez and central Havana, where some residents resorted to banging pots and pans in the streets, while others voiced their frustrations from their balconies. Some individuals, frustrated by the lack of water, even blocked streets with piles of garbage.
“The country has completely ground to a halt,” expressed homemaker Mayde Quiñones, 55, who is responsible for caring for her elderly mother-in-law. “This situation affects everyone, but the elderly are suffering the most,” she lamented.
Blame Game: Trade Embargo or Long-term Mismanagement?
The Cuban government has a notoriously low tolerance for civil disobedience. President Miguel Díaz-Canel made a strong statement on national television on Sunday, asserting, “We will not permit vandalism or allow anyone to disturb the tranquility of our citizens.” The ongoing nationwide blackout is part of a larger energy crisis that has been brewing since a massive outage occurred on Thursday night, leading to widespread discontent and the largest protests in Cuba in nearly three decades back in July 2021. These recent events follow a series of smaller local protests in October 2022 and March of this year.
This unrest is a symptom of a profound economic crisis, which has driven over half a million Cubans to flee to the United States, with many others seeking refuge in Europe. The Cuban government and its allies argue that the United States’ 62-year-old trade embargo is the root cause of the island’s economic woes. In contrast, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Monday that the hardships faced by the Cuban people are significantly exacerbated by the “long-term mismanagement of economic policies and resources” by the Cuban government itself.
Electricity Crisis: A Worsening Situation
While electricity remains relatively inexpensive in Cuba, it is increasingly difficult to access. The government claims it generates around 700 megawatts of electricity, while peak demand can soar to 3 gigawatts. By Monday afternoon, officials indicated that approximately 80% of Havana was experiencing intermittent power, although residents remained skeptical about the accuracy of these claims.
“We have a fridge full of food, and we are terrified,” said Juan Estrada, 53, a small-business owner in central Havana, lamenting the lack of consistent power since Friday morning. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy expressed hope during a news conference that more reliable electricity would be restored by Monday or Tuesday morning; however, schools would remain closed at least until Thursday.
This blackout is being described as Cuba’s most severe since Hurricane Ian struck the island as a Category 3 storm in 2022, which had previously damaged power infrastructure and taken days to repair. In response to the crisis, the Cuban government has rolled out emergency measures aimed at reducing electricity demand. These measures include:
- Suspending classes in schools and universities
- Shutting down certain state-owned enterprises
- Cancelling non-essential services
Local authorities attribute the power outages to increased demand from small- and medium-sized businesses as well as residential air conditioning units. Compounding the issue, breakdowns in aging thermoelectric plants, which have not received adequate maintenance, and a shortage of fuel for some facilities have exacerbated the blackout situation. The energy minister noted that the grid’s condition would have been more stable if not for two additional partial blackouts that occurred while authorities attempted to reconnect the system on Saturday. Additionally, he mentioned that assistance has been offered from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Russia to help alleviate the crisis.
