Cuba reeling amidst energy crisis
Cuba reeling amidst energy crisis
Prolonged blackouts have exacerbated underlying societal problems on the Carribbean island.
Before I get into this issue, I wanted to thank all the readers who reached out following my announcement of pivoting A6. It meant a lot to receive encouragement from people who value this project, and it added a gust of wind behind my sails.
Newsletter writing can sometimes feel like a lonely project, so it was heartening to hear from people who value the energy I put into A6.
Here is the first issue of the new A6, and I hope you all enjoy it.
Feel free to reply via email or comment below with feedback or ideas for future topics. Below are two links to financially support A6.
A6 - Where the World Happens: Cuba’s Energy Crisis
A severe energy crisis has hit Cuba, exacerbating a myriad of systemic problems and hindering relief efforts following a hurricane.
The situation also brought into focus the fallout of US sanctions, which have made it difficult for Cuba to modernize its grid infrastructure.
What happened
Cuba’s electricity system collapsed on October 18 after a large thermoelectric plant failed. That collapse came 24 hours after the country had experienced its largest blackout in two years.
After the thermoelectric plant broke down, another oil plant failed. The national electric system became “completely disconnected.”
The grid has yet to recover, and non-essential workplaces and schools were still closed as of Sunday.
At least 10 million people have experienced extended periods without power, and another wave of blackouts is expected this week.
The lack of electricity has created a surge in mosquito-borne illnesses, putting further pressure on the medical system. A lack of refrigeration has caused food shortages, and potable water has been challenging to find. Furthermore, the situation has rendered large chunks of the population immobile, particularly the elderly.
Over 40% of Cuba’s electricity comes from thermal plants, which are under increasing strain as the energy infrastructure ages. American sanctions exacerbate the problem by dragging down the economy and limiting Cuba’s access to the technology required to modernize the grid.
The US does not allow transactions with oil tankers that have done business in Cuba, meaning the government must incentivize businesses to ignore the massive American market on their shipment journeys. This drives up the cost of energy and limits who is willing to ship oil to Cuba.
Cuba typically receives its oil from Russia, Venezuela, and Mexico, but all three countries have slashed shipments because of domestic shortages.
Washington has said it is monitoring the blackout situation but has not gotten involved. Press Secretary Marine Jean-Pierre blamed the Cuban government’s economic mismanagement and said, “The US is not to blame for the blackouts.”
Amid this mess, Cuba found itself in the direct path of a hurricane.
Hurricane Oscar hits Cuba
More than six people died after Hurricane Oscar hit Cuba’s eastern region. Over 1,000 homes in the province of Guantánamo were damaged amid severe rainfall.
The country may have caught a slight break because Oscar was the smallest Hurricane ever, with a wind field diameter of 6 miles. By comparison, Hurricane Milton in early October had a wind field that reached 255 miles across.
Following the storm, the blackouts hindered rescue efforts, which made large parts of eastern Cuba inaccessible to emergency response workers.
When the hurricane hit, only 36% of Cuba’s power had been restored, most of which was in Havana, the capital city.
The constant state of emergency further strained the population, sparking rare small protests.
Some Cubans take to the streets
Dozens of people banged pots and pans in the streets of Havana to voice their displeasure at having no electricity. The protest wasn’t large or particularly impactful. But in a country like Cuba, where free speech is severely restricted, it was a meaningful moment.
As with any protest, this demonstration was not the result of one specific event but rather an accumulation of grievances brought to the fore by the blackouts.
One protester interviewed by Reuters said she decided to come out because she could not afford basic necessities on the US$8 stipend provided by the government. The demonstrators also complained about trash that starting to pile up and the inconsistency of water services.
The government seems to be tolerating small amounts of dissent, with President Miguel Diaz-Canel encouraging citizens to voice displeasure with “discipline” and “civility.” It seems they are aware that people need to release the pressure valve a little bit.
Cuba’s current emergency has also highlighted a significant shift on the island: crime is rising.
“The safest country in the world”
Cuba, for decades, had a famously low crime rate, which critics argued was because the country had become a police state. Few guns circulate in Cuba, making it far safer than its neighbors, particularly the giant up north.
Now, a marijuana-like chemical called “quimico” has begun circulating through Cuba, and young people are fighting for control of the money it brings. They have formed gangs and started using knives and machetes as common murder weapons.
The crime problem became widely discussed on social media, breaking through Cuba’s instinct for censorship. The story is now being openly discussed on state television.
The government has blamed America for the drug’s existence and for creating the economic conditions that would push youth towards quimico.
An August report from Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory, an organization pushing for more freedom in Cuba, found that 2023 was the year crime arrived as a “recognized problem” in the country. It said that the issue “took off” in 2024.
The research found that, between June through January of 2023 and 2024, murders increased by 111%, assaults by 290%, and robberies by 208%
What’s Next for Cuba?
Cuba faces a prolonged period of uncertainty and will start a long-delayed transition to clean energy.
State media reported that 26 solar plants will come online in the next two years, which will be able to fill about one-third of existing demand. This will not solve the problem and will require patience, but the solar panels should help. Another similar solar project is expected to go online in 2031.
The government said it will work to modernize its grid over the next decade, but, as highlighted above, that is a challenging proposition.
Mexico has taken the lead in offering technical assistance, and the new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, is considering sending fuel aid to the country. On Monday, an oil container ship from Mexico was spotted heading to Cuba.
While this series of blackouts was particularly bad, it should not be surprising if it happens again in the coming years.
Charity to consider: Hope for Cuba
From the About Page:
HOPE FOR CUBA™ is a non-profit humanitarian organization. Its key purpose includes providing humanitarian aid to the Cuban people, conducting humanitarian projects relating to health and medical matters, promoting entrepreneurship and business opportunities, expanding civil and cultural exchanges, encouraging scientific research collaborations, and supporting a path to achieving full normalization of relations
What I am reading:
The Misogynistic, Bigoted and Crude Rally Remarks Trump Hasn’t Disavowed via The New York Times
For Ken Paxton, Every Vote Counts Too Much via Texas Monthly
Spotlight: Meryl Meisler by
Thanks for the shout, Kevin!