Cuba’s Electrical Grid Collapses Again for the Fourth Day in a Row Amid Worsening Crisis: Protests Erupt, Tropical Storm Hampers Recovery
Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed for the fourth day in a row on Sunday, worsening the island’s dire situation, already plagued by severe shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. This latest blackout sparked small protests as authorities struggled to restore power, with a looming tropical storm further complicating recovery efforts.
A Nation in Darkness
The crisis began on Friday when Cuba’s largest power plant shut down unexpectedly, leading to a grid collapse that left nearly 10 million people in the dark. Since then, three more collapses followed, highlighting the fragile state of the country’s infrastructure. The prolonged blackouts, exacerbated by the oppressive heat of the Caribbean summer, have made daily life unbearable for many Cubans, with no immediate solution on the horizon.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel appeared on national television Sunday, dressed in military fatigues—a rare sight for the leader—urging citizens to express grievances with discipline and civility. He warned against any disruptive behavior, saying, “We will not accept vandalism or actions that disturb the peace of our people.”
Blackouts Trigger Protests
On Sunday evening, Havana, Cuba’s capital, was entirely without power. Most homes and businesses remained in the dark, with only a few operating on fuel-powered generators. Despite these difficulties, the streets were not completely silent. Residents gathered on sidewalks to play dominoes or listen to music on battery-powered radios. However, in some areas, tensions escalated as small protests erupted in response to the ongoing outages, a reflection of the growing frustration among the population.
In neighborhoods on Havana’s outskirts, residents staged “cacerolazos”—a form of protest in which people bang pots and pans. In San Miguel de Padrón, an impoverished area, protesters blocked roads with piles of trash, angry over the lack of food, water, and electricity. Security forces dispersed the demonstrators, but the unrest underscored the mounting discontent.
Government’s Struggle to Restore Power
Cuba’s Energy and Mines Minister, Vicente de la O Levy, acknowledged the discomfort caused by the blackouts but insisted that most Cubans support the government’s efforts to resolve the crisis. “It is Cuban culture to cooperate,” O Levy said, dismissing the protests as isolated “indecent” incidents.
Despite these reassurances, a quick resolution seems unlikely. On Sunday, power was temporarily restored to about 160,000 residents in Havana, providing a fleeting sense of relief. However, another collapse later in the day forced authorities to start from scratch, dashing hopes for a swift recovery. Initial promises to restore power by Monday or Tuesday now seem uncertain.
Tropical Storm Adds to the Chaos
The situation worsened when Tropical Storm Oscar made landfall on Sunday, bringing heavy rains and strong winds to parts of eastern Cuba. The storm further complicated recovery efforts, with fears of flooding and additional damage to the already fragile electrical grid.
In response to the dual crises, the government canceled school through Wednesday, an almost unprecedented move. Only essential workers have been asked to report to work, as officials attempt to manage the combined effects of the storm and energy shortages.
Growing Desperation Among Cubans
For residents like Anabel Gonzalez, a housewife from Old Havana, the situation has become unbearable. “My cell phone is dead, and look at my refrigerator. The little that I had has all gone to waste,” she said, gesturing to the empty shelves in her two-room home. Other residents echoed her concerns, noting that many have been without water since the blackouts began.
Internet access has also been severely impacted. Data from the internet monitoring group NetBlocks showed a sharp decline in online activity over the weekend, as widespread outages left residents unable to charge phones or access the internet.
A Crisis with No End in Sight
The Cuban government attributes the blackouts to deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increasing energy demand. Cuba’s aging, oil-fired power plants depend on imported fuel, but deliveries have sharply decreased this year due to geopolitical shifts. Key suppliers, including Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, have significantly cut their fuel exports to Cuba, compounding the crisis.
Venezuela, Cuba’s primary source of subsidized fuel, has halved its deliveries this year as it struggles with its own internal challenges. Mexico, another crucial supplier, has also reduced fuel shipments during its presidential election year, leaving Cuba to seek more expensive alternatives on the global market. Newly elected Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has not yet confirmed whether fuel assistance to Cuba will continue under the same terms.
The Road Ahead
Cuba’s electrical grid crisis has exposed the island’s deepening vulnerabilities. With no clear solution in sight and the threat of a tropical storm complicating efforts, it seems Cuba will continue to face days—if not weeks—of widespread blackouts. For millions of Cubans, this energy crisis has become yet another hardship in a country already struggling with severe shortages.
As uncertainty looms, the patience of Cuba’s citizens is being tested like never before.