Havana – A significant power outage affected millions of Cubans, leading the government to take urgent steps to reduce electricity consumption. This included the suspension of classes, closure of certain state-owned enterprises, and cancellation of services deemed non-essential.

According to officials, the blackout began late Thursday evening, resulting in a loss of 1.64 gigawatts during peak demand hours, which accounted for roughly half of the required energy at that time.

Prime Minister Manuel Marrero addressed the nation on Friday morning, acknowledging that the situation has deteriorated in recent days. He promised transparency regarding the ongoing energy crisis and mentioned that economic activities were being restricted in order to prioritize power supply for the populace.

Marrero spoke alongside Alfredo López, the head of the state-run utility UNE, who attributed the outages to rising energy demands from small businesses and homes, particularly due to the use of air conditioning units. He also noted the aging infrastructure of thermoelectric plants, which have faced maintenance issues, alongside a shortage of fuel necessary to operate some facilities effectively.

Furthermore, the administration is evaluating potential adjustments to electricity pricing for small- and medium-sized enterprises, which have expanded in number since being permitted by the government in 2021.

To soothe public anxieties surrounding the power cut, Marrero mentioned an anticipated increase in fuel supplies from Cuba’s oil company. The scale of the blackout was especially alarming to residents accustomed to regular power interruptions during the ongoing economic challenges, causing many to take precautionary measures. People were seen securing their homes by closing windows and doors, while candles and lanterns lit up the interiors as night fell.