Cuba in the dark… Large-scale power outage nationwide due to economic crisis |

In Cuba, where economic difficulties have become entrenched due to long-standing Western economic sanctions and sluggish industrial restructuring, a large-scale power outage occurred across the country, including the capital Havana, due to a thermal power plant failure on the 18th. As a result, many of the approximately 10 million people are suffering extreme damage, the Associated Press reported. With the forecast saying that Hurricane ‘Oscar’ will bring heavy rain to eastern Cuba on the 19th, it appears that restoring the power outage will not be easy.

According to NBC, the entire island of Cuba was in a state of power outage around 11 a.m. on this day. Power supply was partially resumed this afternoon, but was interrupted again on the morning of the 19th. Authorities said they could not guarantee when normal power supply would resume.

Authorities ordered general businesses not related to manufacturing daily necessities to stop production. Efforts are being made to reduce power use, including closing most schools, but no significant results are being seen.

The New York Times said, “Cuba’s power grid relies on eight thermal power plants that are nearly 50 years old,” and pointed out that Cuba’s power generation facilities are old enough to be called “prehistoric technology.” Maintenance is virtually non-existent as necessary parts and equipment are not supplied due to long-standing sanctions. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez blamed the U.S. for the power outage, saying to ‘X’, “Once the U.S. embargo is lifted, there will be no more power outages.”