Cuba’s national grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power. The country’s Energy and Mines ministry said the collapse occurred after a substation failed, marking the fourth nationwide blackout in five months.
The outage affected western Cuba, including the capital Havana, where the lights were out across the waterfront skyline. Only a few tourist hotels were operating on generators. Reports from outlying provinces suggested widespread power outages, with 10 million people affected.
The reasons for the frequent blackouts are complex, but old and poorly maintained grid infrastructure and reliance on crude oil are major factors. Cuba’s electrical grid is decades old and generates only 80% of its electricity from crude imports from Venezuela, which has recently reduced shipments due to economic instability.
Cuba also struggles with a lack of renewable energy sources, with only 4% of power generation coming from renewables. The government is working tirelessly to restore power, but the frequent blackouts highlight the country’s challenges in maintaining its aging infrastructure and reducing reliance on costly fossil fuels.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/cubas-national-grid-fails-leaving-millions-without-power/a-71929133