Cuba power restoration hit by bad weather

Cuba was working Monday, August 3, to restore electricity after its sixth nationwide blackout of the year, but the state energy utility said bad weather had disrupted the recovery effort.

By midday Monday, about 50 percent of Havana had power again, along with seven provinces in central and western Cuba. The utility later said weather events had caused new grid disruptions and directly affected generator units that were online. It did not specify the extent of the damage or how many areas were affected.

The nationwide blackout began late Sunday, when lights went out across Havana. Cuba had already suffered a western grid failure a day earlier.

Power cuts have become increasingly common as Cuba struggles with ageing power plants, fuel shortages and US pressure on oil deliveries. Many Cubans now receive electricity for only a few hours a day, affecting water supplies and fans during summer heat.

Mayra Rodriguez, a 43-year-old accountant, told AFP she had received only an hour and a half of electricity since Friday and had no water. She said she sleeps on her apartment balcony with her two small children because of the heat.

Residents in some badly affected areas have protested by setting piles of trash on fire or banging pots and pans.

Cuba's seven thermoelectric plants, which form the backbone of the national grid, have been operating for more than four decades and often break down. Many power facilities rely on fuel oil, diesel or natural gas, which are no longer arriving regularly at Cuban ports.

Washington has warned countries that they face sanctions if they deliver oil to Cuba. The administration of US President Donald Trump authorised one Russian tanker carrying 100,000 tons of crude to arrive in March, but those reserves have since been exhausted.

Havana blames Washington for the state of the power system. The United States says Cuba's own economic management is responsible.