Cuba has plunged into a nationwide blackout after the failure of its largest energy plant, leaving its population of 10 million without power.
The blackout occurred around 11:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Friday, following the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas.
The island’s energy ministry confirmed the collapse of the national power grid and stated that the duration of the outage remains unknown.
The blackout comes amid months of recurring power shortages that have led to public frustration and forced the government to declare an “energy emergency” just a day before the current crisis.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez assured the public that restoring power is his “absolute priority,” pledging that there will be “no rest until power is restored.”
Officials, including Lazara Guerra, head of electricity supply at the energy ministry, said that efforts to restore power were in the early stages.
Guerra noted that some electricity generation had resumed in select regions, which would help restart additional power plants across the country.
In response to the blackout, the government took immediate measures, including closing all schools and suspending non-essential activities, such as nightclubs, until Monday.
Non-essential workers were urged to stay home, and citizens were advised to reduce electricity consumption by switching off high-energy appliances during peak hours.
For many Cubans, the blackout has compounded the hardships of everyday life.
An 80-year-old pensioner in Havana, Eloy Fon, expressed frustration over the country’s fragile electricity system, lamenting, “We have no reserves, there is nothing to sustain the country, we are living day to day.”
Bárbara López, a 47-year-old content creator, said, “It’s the worst I’ve seen in 47 years. We have no power or mobile data.”
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, in a televised address, attributed the power outages to a combination of deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increasing demand.
The head of the National Electric Union Alfredo López Valdés, echoed these concerns, acknowledging that Cuba’s energy situation has been under severe strain for some time.
Extended blackouts have sparked unrest in Cuba before, most notably in July 2021, when days of power outages led to large-scale protests against the government.
Many citizens, dealing with spoiled food, lack of water due to electric pump failures, and stifling heat without air-conditioning, have taken to the streets to voice their frustrations.
As the blackout continues, tensions are likely to rise, with the Cuban government acutely aware of the potential for public unrest.
The country has seen rare protests in recent months, with citizens increasingly willing to speak out about the chronic shortages and daily struggles they face.
