Cuba experienced a major power outage after one of its main power plants failed, leaving millions without electricity. Energy minister Vicente de la O Levy announced that some electricity had been restored, with two thermoelectric power plants back online and two more expected to resume operations soon. The outage, caused by a failure at the Antonio Guiteras plant, prompted emergency measures from the Cuban government to reduce electricity demand, such as suspending classes and shutting down nonessential services.
The blackout, which began on a smaller scale on Thursday and worsened on Friday, was attributed to increased demand from air conditioners and breakdowns in old thermoelectric plants. The lack of proper maintenance and fuel also contributed to the outage. Changes to electricity rates for small- and medium-sized companies, which have seen a growth since being authorized by the government in 2021, are being considered as a way to address the situation.
While there is no official estimate for when the blackout will be fully resolved, the government is working to restore power to the affected areas. The incident, unprecedented in modern times aside from hurricane-related outages, has highlighted the challenges faced by the country amid a deepening economic crisis. Residents are urged to conserve electricity until the situation is fully resolved.
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