What happened to Cuba's electrical grid?

HAVANA — Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed Wednesday, leaving the entire island without power, according to the state-run power company. “A total disconnection of the Electrical System, SEN, has occurred, which may be associated with an unexpected outage of the CTE Guiteras,” the Ministry of Energy and Mines wrote on X.

How has Cuba regained electricity?

In the last 24 hours, Cuba has made significant strides in restoring electricity: 7:54 a.m.: Felton 1, part of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermal power plant in Holguín province, was synchronized with the national grid, marking an important step toward stabilizing power after the total system disconnection on October 18.

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.

What happens if the power grid fails in Cuba?

As the primary power grid fails, Cubans with resources are taking matters into their own hands, often in desperate ways. Businesses, hospitals, and wealthy families are installing gasoline and solar generators; the incessant noise from which has become part of the city’s soundscape.

What happened to Cuba's power plant?

The situation came to a head on Friday, when Cuba’s largest power plant malfunctioned, joining several smaller plants already offline. Foul weather had also stalled the arrival of fuel from tanker ships offshore, starving the island’s power plants. The combination prompted the entire grid to collapse.

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.