Cuba Extends Closures Amid Power Crisis and Hurricane Recovery

 

Cuba will maintain the closure of all non-essential workplaces and schools through Sunday as the nation grapples with a severe electricity shortage and the aftermath of Hurricane Oscar. The National Defence Council announced the extended shutdown on Wednesday, stating that only essential services, such as hospitals, will remain operational.

The closures come in response to a nationwide power crisis that began last Friday when the island’s largest power plant collapsed, leading to a total blackout after fuel supplies failed to reach other facilities. The situation worsened over the weekend when Hurricane Oscar swept through eastern Cuba, causing extensive flooding and downing power lines, resulting in at least seven fatalities, including a child.

Initially, the government planned to reopen schools and workplaces on Thursday. By Tuesday, officials reported that the electricity grid had been restored to 70 percent of the country, although many areas outside the capital, Havana, remained without power. However, as of Wednesday morning, the grid was still facing a 30 percent energy deficit during peak evening hours, according to the state electric company, Union Electrica (UNE).

President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the flood-stricken town of San Antonio del Sur on Wednesday, reassuring residents, “You are not alone or abandoned.”

Cuba’s electricity generation relies heavily on eight aging, oil-fired thermoelectric plants, many of which are in disrepair or undergoing maintenance. The country also uses seven floating plants leased from Turkish firms, which have struggled with fuel shortages. According to energy expert Jorge Pinon from the University of Texas at Austin, these thermoelectric plants were built in the 1970s and are prone to frequent breakdowns. “They have a structural problem and they need to recapitalize the whole system,” Pinon stated, comparing their condition to the vintage American cars that are a common sight in Havana.

The current energy crisis reflects the broader economic struggles facing Cuba, which is experiencing its worst economic downturn in decades, marked by soaring inflation and shortages of essential goods such as food, medicine, and water.

In light of the unrest caused by previous blackouts, President Díaz-Canel has cautioned against any attempts to disturb public order. He referenced the mass protests that erupted in July 2021 when power outages sparked widespread discontent among the population.

Over the weekend, residents in one neighborhood demonstrated their frustration by banging pots and pans and shouting demands to "Turn on the lights."

Cuban officials, along with their allies, attribute the island's economic and energy issues to the long-standing U.S. trade embargo, which they argue has exacerbated the situation by sanctioning oil shipments from Venezuela. Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated on Monday that the hardships faced by the Cuban people have been intensified by the government's "long-term mismanagement of its economic policy and resources."