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What happened to Cuba's energy grid?

People gather in a plaza as Cuba is hit by an island-wide blackout, in Havana, Cuba, October 18, 2024. Cuba’s energy grid has collapsed, leaving millions without power, the latest in a series of failures on an island struggling from creaking infrastructure, natural disasters and economic turmoil.

Why did the power grid fail in Cuba?

Cuba suffered from several power grid failures in October, which were initially caused by a lack of fuel at power plants that officials struggled to get back online because they were so outdated. The country’s national power grid collapsed again when Hurricane Oscar hit in late October, killing at least seven people.

Does the US have a role in Cuba's grid collapse?

The United States denies any role in the recent grid collapse. U.S. sanctions, however, do complicate financing of fuel purchases and spare parts for Cuba. They also scare off many oil tankers, forcing Cuba and Venezuela to depend on their own obsolete fleet for transportation. But Cuba’s government has also acknowledged its own shortfalls.

What happened to Cuba's power plant?

The situation came to a head on Friday, when Cuba’s largest power plant malfunctioned, joining several smaller plants already offline. Foul weather had also stalled the arrival of fuel from tanker ships offshore, starving the island’s power plants. The combination prompted the entire grid to collapse.

Are there blackouts in Cuba?

Reports of blackouts elsewhere in Cuba on social media suggested the entire island of around 10 million people was without power, though the government had yet to confirm the extent of the outage. The energy and mines ministry said it was working to reconnect the electrical system.

How will the Cuban government handle the crisis?

The government has ordered the “suspension of work and teaching activities,” Cuba’s Minister of Labor and Social Security, Marta Elena Feito said. “This measure will remain in place for the duration of the crisis. Vital services will continue to function and there will be no salary impact,” state media quoted her as saying.