By Dave Sherwood
HAVANA (Reuters) -Cuba’s authorities mentioned late on Saturday it had restored energy to almost one-fifth of the island’s folks after the nationwide grid collapsed twice in 24 hours, plunging hundreds of thousands of individuals into darkness.
The unprecedented nationwide blackout is the newest blow within the nation of 10 million, already affected by dramatic shortages of meals, medication and gas.
Cuba’s prime electrical energy official, Lazaro Guerra, mentioned the grid operator was working to revive electrical energy however that the method could be sluggish and dashing the job might result in extra blackouts and a deterioration of service.
“I can’t guarantee you that we will full linking the system in the present day, however we’re estimating that there must be vital progress in the present day,” Guerra mentioned on a TV newscast earlier within the day.
The capital Havana was nonetheless largely in the dead of night on Saturday night. Robust winds and rain started to buffet a lot of the Caribbean island forward of the arrival of Hurricane Oscar, which was anticipated to graze northeastern Cuba within the coming days.
The hurricane caps a dramatic collection of occasions in Cuba over a number of days that has raised tensions among the many island’s already exhausted residents.
Cuba’s electrical grid first failed round noon on Friday after one of many island’s largest energy vegetation shut down. The grid collapsed once more on Saturday morning, state-run media reported.
Even earlier than the 2 grid failures, a dire electrical energy shortfall on Friday had compelled Cuba’s Communist-run authorities to ship non-essential state employees residence and cancel faculty for youngsters because it sought to preserve gas for energy technology.
The federal government has blamed weeks of worsening blackouts – so long as 10 to twenty hours a day throughout a lot of the island – on deteriorating infrastructure, gas shortages and rising demand.
Robust winds that started with Hurricane Milton final week had additionally difficult Cuba’s means to ship scarce gas from boats offshore to feed its energy vegetation, officers have mentioned.
Cuba additionally blames the U.S. commerce embargo, in addition to sanctions instituted by then-President Donald Trump, for ongoing difficulties in buying gas and spare elements to function and preserve its oil-fired vegetation.
“There are those that sing victory and be part of the ambition of seeing Cuba on its knees with the interruption of {the electrical} system,” mentioned Vice Overseas Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio on X on Saturday.
“They assist the ruthless U.S. aggression,” he posted. “We reply with the expertise and dedication of our (grid) employees and executives.”
FUEL WOES
The USA on Friday denied any function in Cuba’s grid collapse.
“As now we have seen over the previous few years, Cuba’s financial situations, stemming from long-term mismanagement of its financial coverage and sources, have elevated hardships on the Cuban folks,” a State Division official mentioned.
“The USA clearly is to not blame for in the present day’s blackout on the island, or the general power state of affairs in Cuba.”
Cuban officers have mentioned even when the quick grid collapse is resolved, the electrical energy disaster will proceed.
Cuba produces little of its personal , and gas deliveries to the island have dropped considerably this yr, as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, as soon as vital suppliers, have lowered their exports to Cuba.
Ally Venezuela slashed by half its deliveries of backed gas to Cuba this yr, forcing the island to seek for extra expensive oil on the spot market.
Some Cubans, accustomed to hardship, mentioned they had been coping.
Rene Duarte, 60, strolled via Outdated Havana on a wet Saturday morning to get contemporary air, he mentioned, after an evening of little sleep, a results of the muggy climate.
“We’re used to taking the whole lot in stride, as a result of now we have no different alternative,” he mentioned.
Afterward Saturday, Havana remained largely quiet. Reuters noticed a small group of individuals banging pots and blockading a highway in Marianao on the outskirts of the capital. The protesters scattered when police arrived.
Following Hurricane Ian in September 2022, Cuba’s grid collapsed, leaving the complete nation with out energy for a number of days. Authorities finally re-established service, however not earlier than protests broke out in numerous cities, together with Havana.
