By Dave Sherwood
Cuba’s Struggle with Power Restoration Continues as Grid Collapses for Third Time
Cuba’s attempts to restore electricity to the island hit a roadblock for the third time, leaving millions in darkness and casting doubt on the government’s ability to bring back power.
The national electrical grid first failed on Friday after the largest power plant in Cuba shut down, and the grid collapsed again on Saturday morning, as reported by state-run media.
Despite some progress in restoring power by the evening, authorities announced another collapse, leaving millions without electricity once more.
“Tonight at 10:25 p.m. the total disconnection of the national electro-energetic system occurred again,” said the Havana Electric company in a now-deleted post on Telegram.
Efforts to reestablish service are ongoing, with the energy ministry acknowledging another disconnection in the “western sub-system,” which includes the capital Havana.
This third grid failure is a significant setback in the government’s mission to swiftly bring back power to residents who are already facing food, medicine, and fuel shortages.
Reports of protests surfaced in various parts of Havana, with internet connectivity dropping sharply as power outages made it difficult for residents to charge their phones and stay online.
The government attributes the ongoing blackouts to deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increased demand, as well as challenges in acquiring fuel and spare parts due to the U.S. trade embargo and sanctions.
The U.S. has denied any involvement in the grid failures.