Hurricane Oscar makes landfall in a Cuba mired in energy collapse

Shortly before, the Forecast Center of the Cuban Institute of Meteorology stated that the meteorological station at Punta Maisí, in the province of Guantánamo, It reported sustained winds of 80 km/h and a gust of 116 km/h.

The hurricane has reached a Cuba without electricity since Friday due to a failure in the Antonio thermoelectric plant, the most important on the island, which caused the national system to collapse.

The Cuban government said earlier Sunday that it hoped to restore service Monday night for the vast majority of the island. However, shortly after that announcement, a new drop was recorded, after managing to bring service to more than 200,000 people in Havana, according to the national electricity company.

«A few minutes ago another disconnection of the Electrical System occurred, SEN. The restoration work began immediately,” stated the Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines in its X account.

The minister of that portfolio, Vicente de la O Levy, had indicated in a conference that “between tomorrow, Monday morning, in the afternoon, at night,” the service would be restored for the majority of Cubans, specifying that “the last client may perhaps be receiving (the service) next Tuesday.

The minister explained that the authorities were preparing for the transmission lines in those areas to be affected due to the strong winds that are already affecting that area of ​​the country.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Saturday night on the X network that “They are already working hard to protect the people and economic resources, given the imminence of Hurricane Oscar. “The energy situation” of the island is also addressed, he added.

The authorities suspended classes and essential work activities until Wednesday, only hospitals and vital services for the population will remain in operation.

Complicated situation for citizens

«This blackout makes life very difficult for Cubans. The situation is very difficult, but I try to stay calm, because there is already too much stress in this country,” Yaima Valladares, a 28-year-old dancer, told AFP.

Housewife Isabel Rodríguez, 72, complains of not being able to sleep. «How are our lives not going to get tangled up?“If we don’t have anything, not even the water engines can start,” he said.

“My cold (refrigerator) has already been defrosted for three days and I’m afraid that everything will spoil,” explained this Sunday Adismary Cuza, a 56-year-old private worker, is desperate.

«Two days without electricity, what is this gentleman? What’s going to happen? “The Cuban is tired of so much,” adds Serguei Castillo, 68, who is as worried as Cuza.

On Thursday, Díaz-Canel said that the crisis is due to the difficulty in purchasing the fuel that the electrical system needsdue to the embargo that Washington has applied against the island since 1962.

That same day, the government announced the paralysis of state work to face the crisis that in recent weeks has left the population of several provinces without electricity for up to 20 hours in a day.

Three months of blackouts

The Cubans have been suffering from prolonged blackouts for three monthswith a deficit of up to 30% in national coverage. On Thursday, one day before the total blackout, it reached 50%.

On the island, electricity is generated through eight worn-out fuel-dependent thermoelectric plants, which in some cases have broken down or are undergoing maintenance, as well as several floating plants – which the government rents to Turkish companies – and generator sets.

For the most part, this infrastructure requires fuel to operate.

With shortages of food, medicine, skyrocketing inflation and chronic blackouts that limit the development of productive activities, Cuba faces its worst economic crisis in three decades.

The blackouts were one of the triggers for the historic demonstrations of July 11, 2021.