Blackout Again: Cuba's Electricity Blackout Ends in Second Morning, Reuters

Blackout again: Cuba experienced a complete power outage for the second time this morning, – Reuters Sofia Rozhik

Cuba has already been plunged into a blackout twice/Collage by Channel 24 (illustrative photos)

Cuba has already experienced two blackouts recently blackout. The last time the power went out completely was on the morning of October 19.

A similar situation occurred the day before October 18. Reuters writes about this.

It is unknown how long Cuba will remain without power

On October 19 at 6:15, the Cuban grid operator UNE reported a “complete shutdown of the national electric system.” Cubans were not given any information about why the network failed again or how long it would take to restore it.

This outage in the country occurred just a few hours after they began restoring power supply after the first blackout.

Recall that on Friday, October 18, the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, which is the largest and most efficient in the country, went out of service on the island. As a result, about 10 million Cubans were left without power.

Even before the power grid failure, a power shortage on Friday (October 18 – Channel 24) forced Cuba's communist-run government to send nonessential government workers home and cancel school for children in an attempt to save fuel for production, Reuters noted.

What is causing the power outages in Cuba

The Cuban government blamed the deterioration in the power infrastructure on a fuel shortage and increased energy consumption due to power outages in the country over the past two weeks. In some places, they lasted from 10 to 20 hours a day.

Hurricane Milton, which raged last week and complicated the transportation of fuel by sea, is also named among the reasons.

In addition, in 2024, fuel supplies to the country fell significantly due to the fact that Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, which were recently the main suppliers, reduced their exports to Cuba.

The Cuban government also blames the US trade embargo and sanctions imposed by then-President Trump for the ongoing difficulties in purchasing fuel and spare parts to operate and maintain its oil-fired plants.

However, the United States denies any involvement in the collapse of the power grid on Cuba.