Since Wednesday, the population of, especially from the capital Havana, has faced the effects of the second great electrical blackout this year. Although authorities are trying to communicate a slow return to normality, independent media organs reported that the returns are sporadic and happen only during the day – at peak consumer hours, energy falls again.
According to official information, the power outage on the island of 10 million inhabitants began shortly after 9am (local time) on Wednesday and was linked to malfunction at one of the largest thermoelectric plants of Cuba, according to the Ministry of Energy and Minas.
According to information from the Ministry’s website, the power supply service was affected every 24 hours on Thursday and that these effects performed throughout the early hours of today. The projection is that there is a 1910 MW availability for peak consumer time, but with a demand of 3350 MW – which would generate a 1440 MW deficit.
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The effects of the new blackout are felt in almost every aspect of Cubans’ lives, according to site 14ymedio.com. Many children have been without attending schools for 3 days, polyclinics have reduced care and many elderly people who live on higher floors in buildings have avoided leaving home so as not to face the stairs.
There is also a lack of water in several locality due to the lack of energy or fuel to trigger the pumps.
In Havana, on Wednesday, the traffic lights were off while people ran to buy groceries and basic products before darkening.
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Cuba’s energy supply crisis has worsened in recent years because of US sanctions, which prevent the country from keeping foreign currency enough to update or repair fast -aging plants that have been in use for over three decades.
TV broadcaster Al Jazeera recalled in a report that the government tried alternative plan, renting Turkish floating ships and installing solar parks funded by China. Meanwhile, some richer families have been able to install rechargeable devices and solar panels in their homes.
Reuters recalled that even before Wednesday’s collapse, the vast majority of residents on the island were facing daily drops of 16 hours or more. The Cuba oil -powered plants, already obsoletes and struggling to keep the lights on, reached a total crisis last year, when I imports of oil from Venezuela, Russia and Mexico diminished.
