Cuba’s nationwide electrical grid experienced a significant collapse on Friday, following a failure at a major substation, the Ministry of Energy and Mines announced. This caused widespread power outages across much of western Cuba, including the capital city of Havana. Pictures posted on social media showed the dark skyline of Havana, with only a few hotels operating on diesel generators.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the disruption occurred around 8:15 p.m., resulting in the failure of the national electricity system. Outlying provinces also reported extensive power outages, affecting an estimated 10 million people. Just a day before, the country had already faced interrupted electricity services throughout the day, attributed to both plant failures and a shortage of fuel.

Cuba has been grappling with a series of nationwide blackouts that have highlighted the significant weaknesses in the country’s aging power generation infrastructure. The situation has been particularly dire, with long-lasting rolling blackouts becoming the new normal. Restoring electricity to affected areas has been a priority, as the nation continues to struggle with its energy sector challenges.

Source: https://www.dw.com/en/cuba-s-national-grid-fails-leaving-millions-without-power/a-71929133?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf