What's going on with Cuba's energy crisis?

Havana (EFE).- Cuba has endured 12 months of a full-blown energy crisis marked by blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day, four nationwide power outages, repeated breakdowns at power plants, a paralyzed economy, and growing social frustration. Experts warn that there is little prospect of improvement in the near future.

Did a malfunction at Cuba's biggest thermoelectric plant cause a power outage?

The Ministry of Energy and Mines said on social platform X the latest outage could be tied to a malfunction at one of Cuba's biggest thermoelectric plants. Argelio Abad, the ministry's vice minister, said on state TV the grid shut down after an apparently erroneous message warning of overheating disconnected the thermoelectric plant.

Why does Cuba have a bad energy system?

Cuba’s energy system also suffers from years of reliance on domestic, poor-quality heavy crude oil, which is corrosive because it’s high in sulfur. This has accelerated the wear and tear on boilers, turbines, and pipes in Cuba’s power plants, shortening their life spans and causing frequent and costly outages.

Why are some of Cuba's Sen power plants out of service?

Several of Cuba’s seven thermoelectric plants, the backbone of the SEN, are frequently out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance. These facilities suffer from decades of overuse and chronic underinvestment. At one point, Cuba docked eight floating power plants along its coast as a temporary solution.

Why are power outages a problem in Cuba?

Power outages have become the top concern for Cubans, who struggle to preserve food, conduct banking or bureaucratic tasks, charge electric motorcycles and phones, and carry out household chores. Many wake up in the early hours of the morning, when electricity briefly returns, to cook, iron, or pump water.

Why has Cuba's energy grid collapsed four times in the last 6 months?

On top of that, Cuba’s entire grid has collapsed four times in the last six months. The problem stems from years of neglect of Cuba’s energy infrastructure, exacerbated by constrained access to foreign capital and a failure to adapt to new energy options.