Cuba’s power grid collapses for second time in as many days

Cuba’s national electricity grid has suffered a second major collapse in as little as 24 hours, according to reports from state media on Monday. The failure came as the government was attempting to restore power following a nationwide blackout that struck the island nation the previous evening, leaving millions without electricity. The repeated outages highlight the severe fragility of Cuba’s ageing power infrastructure, which has been pushed to breaking point by a combination of systemic challenges. The Caribbean nation’s electricity generation system relies on outdated equipment that is struggling under the weight of chronic fuel shortages, deteriorating infrastructure and the decades-long US trade embargo that has restricted Cuba’s access to spare parts and modern technology. The American sanctions regime has been particularly damaging to Cuba’s ability to maintain and upgrade its power plants, many of which date back several decades. As Cuba grapples with economic difficulties exacerbated by the embargo and recent global supply chain disruptions, authorities have repeatedly warned that the island’s energy crisis could worsen further without significant international investment or a change in US policy. The dual blackouts underscore the urgent need for systemic repairs and modernisation of Cuba’s electrical infrastructure to prevent further widespread power failures.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.