Cuba in the dark: Nationwide blackout amid energy crisis
In the face of a worsening energy crisis, the Communist government of Cuba closed schools and companies providing services to non-essential state industries on Friday. Soon after, a failure occurred, plunging the entire country into darkness.
According to Reuters, the Cuban government shut down all schools and universities on Friday, halting the operations of companies in "non-essential industry" for three days and sending most officials home. All cultural and recreational institutions and centres will also remain closed until Monday.
Only healthcare and food industry workers were expected to report to work today. The Cuban government aims to tackle the energy crisis, which is causing frequent power outages across much of the country.
In a speech delivered on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero stated that the government had no choice but to "paralyse the economy".
Blackout across the country
"Following the unexpected departure of the Antonio Guiteras CTE, the National Electricity System was completely disconnected at 11 a.m. today," the energy ministry announced on Friday. Due to a failure at one of the largest power plants, the entire country was left without electricity.
Marrero attributed the energy shortage to various factors, including deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages, and rising demand. Meanwhile, Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, accused the USA of financial and energy "persecution", claiming it hindered the "import [of] fuel and other resources necessary".
Millions of Cubans are dealing with frequent power cuts lasting up to 12 hours. Outside Havana, power can be absent for up to 18 hours a day.
The two largest power plants on the island – Antonio Guiteras and Felton – are not meeting planned production levels and are scheduled for maintenance work. This is part of a four-year plan to revitalise Cuba's deteriorating infrastructure.
