Cuba's power grid collapses leaving it without electricity for the 3rd time this month
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- Cuba experienced a nationwide power grid collapse on Saturday, marking the third blackout in March and the second in one week, caused by a failure at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant in Camagüey province.
- The Ministry of Energy and Mines reported a cascading failure in the grid and activated "micro-islands" of generators to supply power to critical facilities such as hospitals and water systems.
- Frequent blackouts have been exacerbated by an aging infrastructure and severe fuel shortages, with Cuba producing only about 40% of its needed fuel and having received no foreign oil shipments for three months.
- The Cuban government attributes the crisis partly to a U.S.-imposed energy blockade and sanctions aimed at pressuring political reforms, while
