Cubans endure days without power as energy crisis hits hard

As Cuba faced one of its most challenging weeks in years, a nationwide blackout left about 10 million Cubans in the dark for several days, while Hurricane Oscar wreaked havoc on the northeastern coast. Many communities on the island now consider the energy crisis a new normal.

Yusely Perez, a resident of Havana, shared her experience as power outages stretched into their fourth day. With her neighborhood going without regular deliveries of liquefied gas for two months, Yusely had no choice but to turn to the only fuel source she could find: firewood. “My husband and I searched all over the city, but we couldn’t find charcoal,” she recalled. “We had to collect firewood from the streets. Fortunately, it was dry enough to cook with.” She stirred a pot of yucca chips sizzling in lukewarm oil, noting, “We’ve gone two days without eating.”

The situation highlighted the long-standing issues in Cuba’s energy infrastructure. Vicente de la O Levy, Cuba’s energy and mines minister, attributed the crisis to the “brutal” US economic embargo, claiming it hindered the import of new parts and fuel needed to maintain the electrical grid. Conversely, the US State Department pointed out that the root cause of Cuba’s energy problems stem from the government’s mismanagement.

Despite the government’s assurances that power would be restored soon, the country faced another blackout just hours later. As night fell, Havana was enveloped in darkness, with residents sitting on their doorsteps, illuminated only by the glow of their mobile phones until their batteries ran out.

Restaurant worker Victor expressed his frustration, stating, “The people who run this country have all the answers. But they need to explain their actions to the Cuban people.” He critiqued the state’s investment in tourism over energy infrastructure, questioning, “They’ve built so many hotels in recent years. We all know building a hotel isn’t cheap. So why is our energy infrastructure collapsing?”

President Miguel Diaz-Canel addressed the nation, clad in military fatigues, warning against protests related to the blackout and stating that authorities would not tolerate disruptions to the social order.

The previous protests in July 2021 over blackouts were still fresh in the minds of many. This time, however, only a few isolated incidents were reported. Nevertheless, the question of how Cuba allocates its limited resources remained a contentious issue on the island.

Cuban economist Ricardo Torres emphasized the need for substantial investment in both electricity generation and distribution. He pointed out that Cuba’s electricity generation has recently fallen short, providing only about 60-70% of national demand. “This gap is significant and serious,” Torres noted, highlighting that government data showed a 2.5% drop in national electricity generation in 2023 compared to the previous year, further illustrating a troubling 25% decline since 2019.

Marbeyis Aguilera, a 28-year-old mother of three, has become accustomed to living without electricity for days on end. In her village of Aguacate, just outside of Havana, power shortages have become part of daily life. “We’ve been without power for six days,” she said while brewing coffee on a makeshift stove. “When the electricity comes on, it’s only for a couple of hours before it goes out again. We have to cook like this just to provide something warm for the kids.”

The community in Aguacate is struggling with food insecurity and water shortages, worsened by the ongoing power cuts. “We need electricity first, and then water. Our food supplies are dwindling,” she lamented, explaining that those who receive money from abroad can buy food, but many, like her family, cannot.

The persistent lack of reliable energy has created a dismal reality for many Cubans, reminiscent of the poverty experienced under the former dictator Fulgencio Batista, ousted by revolutionaries over sixty years ago.

As Cubans continued to face the challenges of the blackout, Hurricane Oscar further complicated matters, delivering high winds and flash flooding. While the storm has passed, the precarious state of Cuba’s energy infrastructure means that another nationwide blackout is always just around the corner.