Background on the Power Crisis in Havana
Havana, the capital city of Cuba with a population of approximately 2.1 million, has been grappling with frequent scheduled power outages of about four hours daily. However, some provinces face extended blackouts lasting up to 20 hours or even over a day. These power cuts are due to the deteriorating state of Cuba’s thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages, and a compromised national electricity grid.
Impact on Daily Life
The ongoing electricity crisis has severely affected water supply and gas services. Between October and March, Cuba experienced four widespread power outages, some lasting several days. The recent unexpected power outage on Monday morning disrupted the sleep of many Havana residents, who had to seek relief from the intense summer heat by standing on balconies or rooftops.
Details of the Unexpected Outage
The power outage on Monday was caused by a malfunction in four substations, leaving numerous zones without electricity across almost all of Havana’s municipalities. Empresa Eléctrica de La Habana, the city’s electricity company, reported the issue on their Facebook page.
“Uno necesita dormir un poco y los niños están dando grito del calor y los mosquitos,” complained a Facebook user from the densely populated Arroyo Naranjo municipality.
Restoration of Power and Future Plans
Power was gradually restored across most municipalities a few hours after the outage, with priority given to essential water supply sources, hospitals, and socioeconomically significant centers.
Empresa Eléctrica de La Habana anticipates a peak demand of 3,700 MW during the day and predicts a shortfall of 1,862 MW at peak consumption hours.
In response to the crisis, the Cuban government initiated a large-scale solar energy generation project this year. So far, 24 photovoltaic parks using Chinese technology have been installed out of a planned total of 51 by the end of 2025.
Key Questions and Answers
- What caused the recent power outage in Havana? The outage was triggered by a malfunction in four substations.
- How often do scheduled power outages occur in Havana? Residents experience daily power outages of approximately four hours.
- What other services are affected by the electricity crisis? The crisis has impacted water supply and gas services.
- What is the Cuban government’s response to the electricity shortage? The government has launched a large-scale solar energy generation project, installing 24 photovoltaic parks so far.
