On Monday, Havana was once more enveloped in darkness due to the unexpected shutdown of a power generation unit. This incident led to a 150 MW deficit, impacting several crucial substations, including Plaza, Príncipe, Boyeros, Tropical, Rincón, and Santiago, as reported by the capital's Electric Company. The outage occurred at 4:50 p.m., disrupting service across numerous circuits in the city and leaving thousands of families in Havana to face yet another night of uncertainty.
This latest power failure comes barely 24 hours after outages caused by a breakdown at the Naranjito substation, which left significant parts of the city without electricity and also disrupted water supply in areas like Plaza, Diez de Octubre, Centro Habana, and Habana Vieja.
The city has experienced its fourth major blackout in less than a week. Last Saturday, four out of six primary blocks within the electrical system were taken offline, and days earlier, various neighborhoods reported prolonged outages, starkly contrasting the official claims of the “recovery of the National Electrical System.”
These recent outages highlight that the technical reconnection of the national grid does not equate to reliability. With aging facilities, inadequate maintenance, and fuel scarcity, Cuba's electrical infrastructure remains on the brink of collapse, forcing the population to live amid unfulfilled promises of improvement and the certainty that darkness will inevitably return.
Understanding Havana's Electrical Challenges
What caused the latest power outage in Havana?
The most recent outage in Havana was due to the unexpected shutdown of a power generation unit, resulting in a 150 MW deficit affecting several key substations.
How frequent are power outages in Havana?
Havana has experienced four major blackouts in less than a week, indicating a frequent and ongoing issue with the electrical system.
What are the main issues facing Cuba's electrical grid?
Cuba's electrical grid struggles with aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and fuel shortages, keeping it on the verge of collapse.
How do power outages affect daily life in Havana?
Power outages disrupt daily life by cutting off electricity and, in some cases, water supply, leaving residents to cope with uncertainty and inconvenience.