Blackout Hits Western Cuba; Grid Failure Leaves Havana in Darkness

Western Cuba, encompassing the capital Havana and four other provinces, was plunged into darkness Saturday night following a failure in the national power grid. The state-owned Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) announced a "partial collapse of the SEN (National Electric System)" at 6:07 p.m. local time, attributing it to damage in the network that affected the western region.

This blackout adds to a series of energy crises that have plagued the island. For the past five years, Cuba has been grappling with a severe economic crisis, leading to frequent widespread or partial power outages. These are often caused by outdated infrastructure and a persistent scarcity of fuel needed to operate the power plants and backup generators.

In recent weeks, Havana has experienced blackouts exceeding 30 consecutive hours, while other parts of the country have endured multi-day outages. This year alone, the island has seen five nationwide blackouts, with three occurring in July within a span of less than ten days. The situation has worsened since January, following U.S. sanctions that have hindered fuel imports, particularly diesel, which is crucial for the power stations. The government reports that only one Russian tanker carrying 100,000 tons of crude oil has been permitted to dock in the last seven months, further straining the energy supply.

The seven thermal power plants, which form the backbone of Cuba's electricity system, are over 40 years old and frequently break down or require maintenance shutdowns. The U.S. administration's "maximum pressure" policy has been cited as a factor exacerbating these issues, with threats to control the island perceived as an "extraordinary threat" to U.S. security.