Cuba's Electrical Grid Suffers Sixth Collapse of the Year
A massive nationwide power outage left millions in the dark, while authorities activated protocols to resolve the fault.
Cuba's national electrical grid has completely collapsed for the sixth time this year, shadowed by the US energy embargo and a deepening economic crisis.
Widespread Grid Outage
Cuba's national electrical grid completely collapsed once again on Friday, leaving millions of people across the island without electricity.
Announcing the nationwide power outage via its official social media account, the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that repair work had begun.
Source of the Malfunction and Weather Conditions
Authorities stated that a fault occurred in transmission lines in the western part of the country, causing the system to collapse as far as Matanzas province.
According to information published in the official newspaper Granma, unstable weather conditions were among the factors that further worsened the current situation in the grid.
Limited Energy and Repair Efforts
By evening, electricity began to be restored to five percent of users in the capital, Havana.
Additionally, small localized micro-grids for electricity distribution began to be established in various provinces to ensure that critical facilities such as hospitals could remain operational.
Embargo and Aging Infrastructure
Since January, the energy embargo enforced by the US has prevented Cuba from importing fuel and spare parts for its outdated infrastructure.
This blockade has significantly increased the frequency and severity of electrical grid collapses across the island.