New blackout schedule in Havana due to generation deficit

The Cuban capital, which had long been privileged compared to the rest of the country in terms of power outages, has not been able to escape the deep energy crisis affecting the island.

The Electric Company of Havana announced a new schedule of scheduled blackouts between September 16 and 21, 2024, attributing the measure to a deficit in electricity generation and alleged breakdowns at the generating plants.

This schedule of power cuts, which affects different areas of the capital in blocks of four hours each day, is a clear indication of the severity of the electrical crisis facing the country.

Blackouts, traditionally more frequent in the interior of Cuba, are now affecting Havana, a phenomenon that reflects a deep deterioration of the Cuban electrical system.

Scheduled blackouts in the capital

According to the schedule released by the state company, the power outages will occur in intervals from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., affecting different blocks of the city. The schedule includes the following outages:

Affected hours (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.):

• Monday, September 16: Block B3
• Tuesday, September 17: Block B2
• Wednesday, September 18: Block B4
• Thursday, September 19: Block B1
• Friday, September 20: Block B3
• Saturday, September 21: Block B2

In case of emergencies or unexpected shutdowns of generating plants, an additional program will be added for the same time slot (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

• Monday, September 16: Block B4
• Tuesday, September 17: Block B1
• Wednesday, September 18: Block B3
• Thursday, September 19: Block B2
• Friday, September 20: Block B4
• Saturday, September 21: Block B1

Energy crisis without a solution

The announcement of these blackouts in the Cuban capital occurs in the context of a severe energy crisis affecting the country, marked by a significant deficit in electricity generation and a lack of investments to improve the outdated infrastructure.

While authorities blame "unforeseen breakdowns" in the generating plants, experts and analysts attribute the electrical collapse to the lack of maintenance, the government's inability to diversify its energy sources, and international sanctions that exacerbate fuel shortages.

Until recently, Havana had been a kind of "bubble" in terms of electricity supply stability, a situation that contrasted with the rest of the country, where service outages of up to 12 hours are a constant reality for millions of Cubans.

However, the intensification of the crisis has led to scheduled blackouts even in the capital, affecting a population that is already struggling with shortages of food, water, medicines, and other essential goods.