Cuba has restored power to much of Havana after a significant blackout, which affected 10 million people for almost two days. The outage resulted from a transmission line failure. While the power has been largely restored, generation remains at only one-third of typical demand, highlighting ongoing energy challenges.
Cuba has successfully reconnected its national electrical grid, restoring power to a significant portion of Havana by late Sunday, nearly two days following a widespread outage that affected 10 million residents. According to Havana’s electric company, around two-thirds of the city’s clients had their electricity restored, with expectations of further increases overnight.
Residents celebrated as lights began to flicker back on after enduring two days without electricity. The grid failure originated from a malfunctioning transmission line at a substation in Havana, which triggered a domino effect that incapacitated power generation across the entire island.
Cuba’s capital, densely populated and a vital tourism hub, experienced severe disruptions, with commerce halted and most dining establishments closed for numerous hours. The grid operator confirmed that the country’s largest oil-fired power plants, Felton and Antonio Guiteras, resumed operations by late Sunday, marking a crucial step in the effort to restore power throughout the island.
Additionally, electricity was also restored in Pinar del Rio province, the last region to regain power, just prior to twilight on Sunday. This incident represents the fourth nationwide blackout in Cuba since October, exacerbating a crisis that has been ongoing due to deteriorating oil-fired plants amidst diminishing imports from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico.
Prior to the blackout on Friday, many Cubans were already grappling with daily power outages lasting over 20 hours. Despite some progress in restoring electricity, officials reported generation levels at only one-third of the standard daily demand, leaving numerous residents without power.
In summary, Cuba’s national electrical grid has been reestablished, efficiently restoring power to much of Havana after a significant blackout. Although the situation has improved, challenges remain due to outdated infrastructure and reduced oil imports, compounded by the U.S. trade embargo. The government is actively pursuing alternative energy solutions to mitigate these ongoing challenges.
Original Source: gazette.com
