Major blackout in Cuba's energy system
A major blackout occurred in Cuba's energy system, leading to power outages in most regions of the country, including the capital. The outages affected areas from Pinar del Río in the west to the Camagüey province in the east, as well as the eastern province of Las Tunas due to a malfunction of substations. Millions of people in western Cuba were left without power following a massive failure that occurred after the shutdown of the country's largest thermal power plant.
Causes and consequences of the blackout
The failure occurred at the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant, located about 100 km east of Havana. According to Union Electrica UNE,
“the power outage was caused by an unexpected failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant”. Repairs at the Guiteras plant may take three to four days.
Cuba has experienced a series of serious power outages in recent years, and the Trump administration restricted oil supplies to Cuba, which may also have affected the situation in the energy sector. The provinces that experienced power outages include:
- Pinar del Río
- Camagüey
- Las Tunas
The country continues to face challenges in providing stable electricity supply. This event highlights Cuba's ongoing issues in the energy sector, which have been exacerbated by outdated infrastructure and economic difficulties. Power outages have become common in recent years, raising public concern about the reliability of energy supply. Restoring the operation of the thermal power plant and the overall state of the energy system remain critically important for the country's stability.