Summary
A blackout affected western Cuba, including Havana, on Wednesday, but power was restored by early afternoon. The country's ageing energy grid is facing increasing challenges from frequent outages and natural disasters. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has pointed to U.S. sanctions and recent hurricanes as obstacles to improving the grid's reliability.
Key Facts
- A blackout hit western Cuba, including Havana, early Wednesday morning.
- Power was restored by 1:26 PM local time.
- In 2024, there were at least five major power grid failures in Cuba.
- Much of Cuba's energy infrastructure is outdated, with origins dating back to the Cold War era.
- Cuba relies heavily on fossil fuels, with plans to develop renewable energy, such as solar farms with China's help.
- Recent hurricanes, such as Imelda and Melissa, caused significant damage to infrastructure.
- The U.S. embargo on Cuba has been in place since 1962, affecting the country's economy.
- The United Nations General Assembly called for an end to the U.S. embargo in a recent resolution.
