For the fifth time this year, Cuba suffered a massive power outage after a partial collapse of the electrical grid early on Wednesday.
The capital city of Havana and many of the western provinces are without power, according to a state media reporter who spoke to Reuters.
It was not immediately clear what caused the grid collapse.
Cuba’s power system has deteriorated in recent years as the fuel and oil supply crisis has hit heavily the old oil-fueled power plants.
Cuba’s power generation is heavily dependent on oil products—according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), Cuba’s energy supply mainly comes from oil products, which account for more than 80% of power generation.
Oil also accounts for 84% of Cuba’s total energy supply.
However, Cuba’s imports of oil and fuel, mostly from Venezuela, Russia, and Mexico, have slumped as production at these countries has been constrained by a lack of investment in Mexico’s case, and U.S. sanctions, in Venezuela and Russia’s case.
Cuba’s outdated power plants and weak grid now supply just 50–70% of electricity demand in the country, causing almost daily blackouts and repeated nationwide outages.
In addition to localized power outages, Cuba had experienced four nationwide blackouts this year, before this week’s massive outage.
In May, Cuba’s electricity demand rose to 3.05 GW, compared to 2.58 GW in March, as the supply stood at around 1.9 GW. This means that on average, the government can meet between 50% and 70% of Cuba’s energy needs.
The regular blackouts have prompted residents to invest in charcoal stoves, rechargeable batteries and fans, as well as other vital products to use during outages when confronted with soaring temperatures, which many can barely afford.
Reliance on poor-quality heavy crude and unstable oil imports from Venezuela has forced Cuba to turn to Mexico and China for emergency fuel shipments. Cuba is also considering investment in solar power generation to try to replace some of its dependence on oil for its electricity supply.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
- Disney, Big Tech Take Up Energy Trading As Power Costs Soar
- Saudi Arabia Starts Natural Gas Production at Giant Jafurah Project
- Hungary Challenges EU’s Phase-Out of Russian Energy Imports
