Cuba is struggling to restore power to its hospitals, water pumping facilities, and other essential services as the country grapples with a nationwide blackout crisis. The communist-run government has prioritized returning power to these critical areas, while schools and non-essential government services remain closed.
The blackout began when a failure at the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, Cuba’s top electricity producer, triggered a chain reaction that left millions without power. The plant, which was undergoing maintenance, shut down at around 2 a.m. local time, starving the grid of electricity and leading to the collapse.
Cuba’s energy crisis is exacerbated by fuel shortages, natural disasters, and economic crisis. The country relies heavily on oil imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, but these dwindling supplies have pushed its power plants into full crisis mode.
The situation has become increasingly dire for Cubans, who face regular blackouts, food, medicine, and water shortages. Scattered protests have erupted over the past two months as a result of repeated power failures and other shortages.
In an effort to address the crisis, Cuba’s government has issued regulations requiring state and private businesses to generate more electricity from renewable resources. However, these measures are not yet being effectively implemented.
As the situation continues to unfold, Cubans are left to face the consequences of their country’s struggling energy infrastructure.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/cubas-electric-grid-collapses-after-power-plant-failure-2024-12-04