• Cuba experienced a partial collapse of its electrical grid, affecting Havana and western provinces.
• Residents endured prolonged blackouts, with some areas facing outages for up to 20 hours daily.
• Restoration efforts began shortly after the incident, with officials reporting power was being restored.
• The government blames outdated infrastructure, fuel shortages, and recent hurricanes for the crisis.
• International sanctions have exacerbated Cuba's energy woes, hindering fuel imports and infrastructure upgrades.

Cuba has begun to restore electricity following a significant blackout on Wednesday that left the capital, Havana, and other western provinces without power. The blackout reportedly initiated around 5 a.m. local time, linked to the failure of a main transmission line connecting Havana with the Matanzas power plant, and restoration efforts were underway by mid-morning according to government officials, including Lazaro Guerra, a top energy official. “We already have a certain level of electricity in Havana and also in the province of Mayabeque,” Guerra stated, confirming that areas were gradually regaining power as workers responded swiftly to the crisis, according to SCMP and Reuters.

The prolonged outages, which have become commonplace across Cuba, span from Pinar del Rio to Mayabeque, leaving millions in darkness for extended periods, some facing blackouts exceeding 20 hours daily. Even before the recent incident, residents of Havana, once relatively insulated from such crises, now endure about 10 hours without electricity each day, prompting widespread frustration among citizens, according to reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Officials attribute the electrical grid failures to a combination of outdated infrastructure, declining oil imports, and damages caused by recent hurricanes, including Hurricane Melissa. These conditions have intensified the energy crisis, with the government citing challenges like fuel shortages exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, which have significantly limited Cuba's ability to maintain stable electricity supply, as detailed by SCMP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

This incident marks yet another chapter in Cuba's ongoing struggle with its electricity supply, further compounded by an economic crisis that has seen significant cuts in fuel supplies from key allies, leading to multiple protests across the island. The Cuban leadership continues to emphasize the long-term plans for modernizing the grid, including investments in renewable energy to alleviate future crises, even as it faces immediate challenges, as highlighted by SCMP and Al Jazeera.