Power Returns Unevenly
Cuba began restoring electricity Sunday after a nationwide blackout left millions without power for the third time this month. The state-run Electric Union and the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that 72,000 customers in the capital, including five hospitals, had electricity early Sunday. However, this is only a fraction of Havana's population of approximately 2 million.
Blackout Causes and Impact
The Cuban Electric Union attributed the "total disconnection" of the national energy system to an unexpected shutdown of a generation unit at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camaguey province. Residents are facing disruptions to their daily lives, including reduced work hours and lack of electricity for cooking. Suleydi Crespo, a 33-year-old mother of two, told the Associated Press that her refrigerator broke due to the blackout and low voltage.
Government Response and Fuel Shortages
President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that the island has not received oil from foreign suppliers for three months. Vice Minister of Energy and Mines Argelio Abad Vigo said that the country has gone three months without receiving supplies of diesel, fuel oil, gasoline, aviation fuel, or liquefied petroleum gas. Cuba produces barely 40% of the fuel it needs to power its economy. Fuel sales for vehicles are rationed, airlines have suspended flights or reduced frequencies, and many workplaces have reduced hours.
US Policy Impact
The Cuban government has blamed the outages on a U.S. energy blockade. President Trump warned of tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to Cuba. His administration is demanding that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions. Another factor is the removal by the U.S. of Venezuela's former President Nicolás Maduro, which halted petroleum shipments from the nation.
Public Reaction
Protests have been reported in Cuba in the past week, according to CBS Miami, as frustration grows over prolonged blackouts and worsening living conditions across the island. Residents are expressing exhaustion from the constant outages. Dagnay Alarcón, a 35-year-old vendor, said, "We have to get used to continuing our usual routine. What else can we do? We have to try to survive. Get used to events, with or without electricity."
Looking Ahead
María Regla Cardoso, a housewife in Havana, said, "I leave everything in God's hands. Whatever form the situation takes, we just have to face it."
