Cuba Faces Nationwide Blackout Amid Energy Crisis

Havana, Sep 11 (AP) Cuba experienced a total blackout on Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of outages attributed to ageing infrastructure and fuel shortages affecting the power plants. This incident represents the second nationwide blackout this year, following three similar occurrences late last year. The Ministry of Energy and Mines communicated through social platform X that the outage may be connected to a malfunction at one of the country's major thermoelectric plants. According to Argelio Abad, the ministry's vice minister, an erroneous overheating warning disconnected the thermoelectric plant, causing the grid shutdown. He explained on state TV that efforts to construct a microsystem to restore electricity for essential services were immediately initiated. Crew members are working diligently to restore power across the island, targeting vital infrastructure such as hospitals, food production facilities, and other high-priority businesses. Prime Minister Manuel Marrero visited the state-run power company, urging Cubans to trust the restoration process, which he emphasized would be gradual. Some residents, like 65-year-old Mayte Garcia, anticipated being without power for several days, opting to take in the fresh air while waiting for electricity to return. She expressed concerns about food spoilage due to the prolonged outage. Havana, the bustling capital home to nearly two million people, maintained a calm atmosphere, though many residents ventured out to secure essential supplies before nightfall. Katie Cadenas, a 48-year-old public employee, expressed her intent to purchase bread, fearing a shortage of basic goods. The city's traffic lights were darkened, halting social and cultural activities, yet gas stations continued dispensing fuel. Internet connectivity in some areas was notably slow or intermittent. The persistence of blackouts has prompted certain individuals to prepare accordingly. Sixty-five-year-old Aurelio Chacon mentioned his personal power plant, while acknowledging the widespread complaints of others affected by the outage. In recent months, more affluent residents, entrepreneurs, and those with family support from abroad have resorted to solar panels and rechargeable devices. Earlier this week, an outage struck Cuba's eastern region, impacting the populace from Las Tunas to Guantánamo for several hours. In February, the government had to suspend classes and work for two days owing to insufficient electricity production. Cuba is grappling with an exacerbated economic and energy crisis, aggrieved by U.S. sanctions aimed at inciting political changes on the island. These sanctions have hindered Cuba's ability to acquire foreign currency essential for fuel purchases and maintenance of its over 30-year-old thermoelectric plants. (AP) SKS SKS

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