Cuba Power Outages Leave Millions in the Dark Amid Economic Crisis
In the midst of a deepening economic crisis, Cuba is facing power outages totaling 14 hours or more per day, leaving millions of residents defenseless in the summer heat and humidity. The state-run power company cited breakdowns at six plants on the outdated grid as the cause of the outages.
The monopoly provider has promised only minor relief for the weekend, with humidity forecasted at around 90% and temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). Reports indicate that even the famed Varadero tourism resort in Matanzas province was affected, with power only available at key institutions like hospitals.
Residents across the country have been dealing with daily blackouts, disrupting daily life and the economy. The situation has worsened since 2021, leading to rare protests due to shortages of basic goods, high inflation, and difficulties importing fuel and infrastructure parts.
Even in areas like Havana, typically spared from the worst of the outages, residents are facing tranches of power cuts lasting four hours or more multiple times a day. The impact on daily life and businesses is significant, with individuals like Ariel Rodriguez, a restaurant worker in Santiago de Cuba, reporting up to 10 hours of outages a day.
The situation in Cuba highlights the challenges faced by the country and its residents, as the economy struggles and basic services like electricity become increasingly unreliable. For investors and individuals looking to understand the impact of these events, it is important to consider the broader economic context and the potential implications for the country's future stability and growth prospects.