Cuba Faces Fifth Nationwide Blackout of 2023 Amid Crisis

BREAKING: Cuba has been plunged into its fifth nationwide power blackout of the year, deepening the ongoing energy crisis that has left citizens in despair. The outage occurred at approximately 9:15 am local time today, as reported by the energy ministry on its X account. Officials confirmed a “total disconnection of the SEN electricity system,” linked to an unexpected shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant.

The situation is dire. Cuba is grappling with its worst economic crisis in three decades, resulting in persistent power outages, fuel shortages, and a collapsing electricity infrastructure. Despite the installation of 30 solar parks funded and built with Chinese expertise, the energy supply remains critically inadequate.

Residents like Alina Gutierrez, a 62-year-old housewife from Havana, expressed their anguish amidst the latest blackout. “Yet again, we’re going backward. Yet again, a lost day! Anguish and sadness, and for some, despair,” Gutierrez shared with emotion while shopping for essentials. As electricity is crucial for pumping water into homes, she hurried back to stockpile water, anxiously awaiting the duration of the outage.

The Antonio Guiteras plant, the largest of Cuba’s aging oil-fired power facilities, is over 40 years old and has been a frequent source of outages. Just last Sunday, five of Cuba’s 15 provinces faced hours-long blackouts due to grid failures. In October 2024, the island experienced days of darkness following a similar plant shutdown, highlighting the systemic issues affecting Cuba’s energy supply.

These recurring blackouts have fueled rare anti-government protests, with frustrated citizens demanding action from authorities. To mitigate the crisis, Cuba has sought assistance from a Turkish company to rent floating electric plants and is using generators powered by crude oil. However, the struggle to secure enough fuel for vehicles, tractors, and ambulances complicates the situation further.

As the government investigates today’s outage, the immediate future remains uncertain. Citizens are left to navigate daily life amid deteriorating conditions, with the power outages continuing to disrupt everyday routines and livelihoods.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as authorities work to restore power and address the underlying issues plaguing Cuba’s energy system.