Cuba experiences sixth nationwide blackout this year amid fuel shortages
A transmission failure triggered a nationwide power outage in Cuba, affecting millions for the sixth time this year, as authorities work to restore service while citing fuel import restrictions.
Cuba's national electricity grid collapsed on Friday after a failure in transmission lines in the western part of the island, prompting officials to activate restoration protocols. The outage, which spread to the eastern region, left millions without power, marking the sixth such event since January.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported that unstable weather conditions worsened the situation. By evening, about 5% of customers in Havana had power restored, and temporary micro-grid systems were being set up in the provinces of Camagüey, Pinar del Río and Granma to supply hospitals and other emergency facilities.
Residents described the uncertainty of the blackout. > "Maybe it'll come back this afternoon or tomorrow—there's no way to know. We just have to wait," said Abilén Marrero, a homemaker in central Havana.
Cuban authorities attribute the recurring blackouts to the island's economic crisis and a U.S. fuel embargo imposed in January, which limits imports of oil and spare parts needed for thermoelectric plants. Since the embargo, only one fuel tanker, delivered by Russia in March, has reached Cuba.
The outages have disrupted transportation, reduced work hours, cancelled flights and affected basic services such as cooking, water supply and communications. The Cuban ambassador to the United Nations previously described the blackouts as a "collective punishment" in remarks to CBS News.
U.S. officials have indicated a preference for diplomatic solutions to Cuba's political and economic challenges, though discussions of possible military options have been reported.