Cuba’s government has released a statement announcing that it was working again to reestablish electrical service across the island after a state-run media had earlier on Saturday reported the national grid had collapsed for a second time in 24 hours.
The country’s top electricity official, Lazaro Guerra, had said on a morning TV news program that another grid malfunction in western Cuba had compelled technicians to begin connecting three important power plants to the system afresh. This development temporarily stalled their progress.
Cuba’s electricity grid first collapsed around midday on Friday after one of the island`s largest power plants shut down, plunging over 10 million residents into darkness.
Prior to the grid’s collapse, an electricity shortfall on Friday had forced Cuba’s communist-run government to order non-essential state workers home and cancel school classes for children as it worked to conserve fuel for generation.
However, lights began to flicker on in scattered pockets across the island early in the evening on Friday, offering some hope that electricity would soon be restored.
The Cuban government has attributed weeks of worsening blackouts – often 10 to 20 hours a day across much of the island – on its deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and increased power demand.
Additionally, the strong winds that began with Hurricane Milton last week had also complicated the island’s ability to deliver precious fuel from boats offshore to feed its power plants.
Fuel deliveries to the island have decreased significantly this year, as Venezuela, Russia and Mexico, who were once key suppliers, reduced their exports to Cuba.
Cuba’s primary ally, Venezuela cut by half its deliveries of subsidized fuel to the country this year, mandating the island to search elsewhere for far more pricey oil on the spot market.
Cuba’s government is also blaming the U.S. trade embargo, and the sanctions under former President Donald Trump for its ongoing difficulties in accessing fuel and spare parts to operate and maintain its oil-fired plants.
The United States had on Friday, however, denied playing any part in Cuba’s grid collapse.
