Power cuts worsen in Cuba

Cuba is facing widespread power cuts, exposing an energy crisis exacerbated by fuel shortages and aging infrastructure.

Share:

Cuba pannes d'électricité 2024

Cuba is experiencing a difficult situation, with power cuts affecting the whole island, including Havana. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy announced that the disruptions had been ongoing since Friday evening, highlighting the scale of the problem.

The origins of the crisis

The current problems are attributed to the maintenance of the Antonio Güiteras thermoelectric plant, which had already suffered a sudden shutdown in 2022, and to a fuel shortage, following two crises in 2022. This combination exacerbated the situation, leading to prolonged power cuts. The Minister stressed that these power cuts were unavoidable to ensure the necessary maintenance at the plant, which is essential to the island’s electricity production.

The daily impact of power cuts

The consequences of power cuts are far-reaching, affecting food preservation, lighting and even cooking. In some regions, residents are reporting blackouts of more than 10 hours a day, greatly disrupting everyday life. This situation demonstrates Cuba’s dependence on aging and vulnerable energy infrastructures.

Government responses to the crisis

Faced with this emergency, the Cuban government has promised a gradual restoration of electricity. However, the Minister warned that the situation would remain tense, mainly due to the financial challenges of acquiring oil. Despite these promises, public confidence in a rapid resolution is waning, underlining the need for a long-term strategy.

Looking for sustainable solutions

This crisis highlights the need for Cuba to rethink its energy infrastructure and explore sustainable alternatives. Investing in renewable energies and improving the efficiency of existing power plants could be crucial steps in preventing future crises. The current situation could ultimately serve as a catalyst for an energy transition on the island.

Cuba’s current energy crisis is an urgent call to action to modernize the country’s energy infrastructure and diversify its energy sources. The government’s efforts to stabilize the grid are essential, but strategic thinking about Cuba’s energy future is needed to ensure a lasting solution.

Nearly USD92bn will be invested by major American and international groups in new data centres and energy infrastructure, responding to the surge in electricity demand linked to the rise of artificial intelligence.
Nouakchott has endured lengthy power interruptions for several weeks, highlighting the financial and technical limits of the Mauritanian Electricity Company as Mauritania aims to widen access and green its mix by 2030.
Between 2015 and 2024, four multilateral climate funds committed nearly eight bn USD to clean energy, attracting private capital through concessional terms while Africa and Asia absorbed more than half of the volume.
The Global Energy Policies Hub shows that strategic reserves, gas obligations, cybersecurity and critical-mineral policies are expanding rapidly, lifting oil coverage to 98 % of world imports.
According to a report by Ember, the Chinese government’s appliance trade-in campaign could double residential air-conditioner efficiency gains in 2025 and trim up to USD943mn from household electricity spending this year.
Washington is examining sectoral taxes on polysilicon and drones, two supply chains dominated by China, after triggering Section 232 to measure industrial dependency risks.
The 2025-2034 development plan presented by Terna includes strengthening Sicily’s grid, new interconnections, and major projects to support the region’s growing renewable energy capacity.
Terna and NPC Ukrenergo have concluded a three-year partnership in Rome aimed at strengthening the integration of the Ukrainian grid into the pan-European system, with an in-depth exchange of technological and regulatory expertise.
GE Vernova has secured a major contract to modernise the Kühmoos substation in Germany, enhancing grid reliability and integration capacity for power flows between Germany, France and Switzerland.
The National Energy System Operator forecasts electricity demand to rise to 785 TWh by 2050, underlining the need to modernise grids and integrate more clean energy to support the UK’s energy transition.
Terna has signed a guarantee agreement with SACE and the European Investment Bank to finance the Adriatic Link project, totalling approximately €1bn ($1.08bn) and validated as a major transaction under Italian regulations.
India unveils a series of reforms on oil and gas contracts, introducing a fiscal stability clause to enhance the sector’s attractiveness for foreign companies and boost its growth ambitions in upstream energy.
The European Commission is launching a special fund of EUR2.3bn ($2.5bn) to boost Ukraine’s reconstruction and attract private capital to the energy and infrastructure sectors.
Asia dominated global new renewable energy capacity in 2024 with 71% of installations, while Africa recorded limited growth of only 7.2%, according to the latest annual report from IRENA.
US President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act dramatically changes energy investment rules, imposing restrictions on renewables while favouring hydrocarbons, according to a recent report by consultancy firm Wood Mackenzie.
On July 8, 2025, the Senate validated the Gremillet bill, aimed at structuring France's energy transition with clear objectives for nuclear power, renewable energies, and energy renovation.
Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Peru significantly increase renewable electricity production, reaching nearly 70% of the regional electricity mix, according to a recent Wood Mackenzie study on Latin America's energy sector.
The Canadian government announces an investment of more than $40mn to fund 13 energy projects led by Indigenous communities across the country, aiming to improve energy efficiency and increase local renewable energy use.
The German Ministry of Economy plans to significantly expand aid aimed at reducing industrial electricity costs, increasing eligible companies from 350 to 2,200, at an estimated cost of €4bn ($4.7bn).
A major electricity blackout paralyzed large parts of the Czech Republic, interrupting transport and essential networks, raising immediate economic concerns, and highlighting the vulnerability of energy infrastructures to unforeseen technical incidents.