Power Restored Gradually After Major Blackout in Western Cuba

Significant portions of western Cuba remain without power as recovery efforts continue following a major blackout that struck the region on Wednesday. The outage, attributed to a fragile electric grid and inadequate fuel supplies, left millions in darkness. Crews are currently working to repair a broken boiler at one of the island’s largest thermoelectric plants, with officials estimating that complete restoration may take between three to four days.

Repair Efforts Underway Amid Ongoing Challenges

As of Thursday, state media reported that approximately 660,000 customers in Havana, which represents 77% of the city’s population, had their electricity restored. This includes power to 43 hospitals and 10 water supply stations. Despite these efforts, the overall power generation remains low, and some circuits that had been reconnected were knocked offline again.

Among those still affected by the outage is Miguel Leyva, a 65-year-old man living with his ill family members. “I have no words to describe what I’m going through: the heat, the mosquitoes and no electricity. The food could spoil,” he stated, expressing frustration over the prolonged disruption.

The Ministry of Energy and Mines communicated via social media platform X that the electrical system is currently operating “in a limited capacity,” prioritizing essential services such as health care and water supply. Reports indicate that two power plants remain offline due to a lack of petroleum, exacerbating the situation.

Government officials confirmed that they had identified a crack in the boiler drum that caused the outage. They stated that it would take about 12 hours to cool the area so that repair work could commence. Additionally, repairs are already underway for a damaged pipe that contributed to the failure.

Community Impact and Long-standing Issues

Despite the blackout, local business owners are finding ways to adapt. Sonia Vázquez, 61, continued to sell coffee to passersby using gas to prepare her drinks in the early morning under a rechargeable lamp. “I didn’t sleep last night. Too many mosquitoes,” she remarked, highlighting the challenges faced by residents during the outage.

Another local business owner, José Ignacio Dorta, 57, reported that some of his frozen food had spoiled due to the lack of electricity. “We’ve looked for ways to prevent further spoilage. We’re working on it. We hope nothing else will spoil,” he said, reflecting the resilience of the community.

Cuba’s electrical grid has long been plagued by aging infrastructure and intermittent fuel supplies, but the situation has worsened in recent months. Following a halt in key oil shipments from Venezuela due to U.S. sanctions, the Cuban government has struggled to maintain adequate power levels. In January 2023, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba, further complicating the energy crisis.

On Thursday, Trump hinted at potential negotiations with Cuba but indicated other priorities at the moment, particularly regarding tensions with Iran. He noted, “They want to make a deal so badly. You have no idea,” yet he provided no specific details about the potential agreement.

This latest outage marks the second major blackout in western Cuba in just three months. The previous incident in December lasted nearly 12 hours. Many of Cuba’s thermoelectric plants are over three decades old and suffer from insufficient maintenance due to high operational costs and import restrictions on necessary equipment.

The situation highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the Cuban government in delivering reliable electricity to its citizens while navigating the complexities of international relations and domestic infrastructure challenges.

Reporting by Associated Press correspondents Dáni​ca Coto in Costa Rica and Will Weissert in Washington, D.C.