<
https://theconversation.com/cubas-power-grid-collapse-reveals-the-depth-of-the-countrys-economic-crisis-241819>
"Cuba’s national grid collapsed four times in as many days last week, after the
island’s largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras, failed. Millions of Cubans are
still without power, with food rotting in powerless fridges and many lacking
access to clean water.
The Communist government closed schools on October 18 and ordered non-essential
public sector activities to stop as work began on restoring the grid. But this
was hindered by the arrival of Hurricane Oscar on Sunday night, which unleashed
heavy rain and strong winds across eastern Cuba.
Antonio Guiteras is now back online, and Cuban energy officials say electricity
has been restored in most of the capital city, Havana, and some outlying areas.
But they have warned against too much optimism.
Cuba’s five thermoelectric power plants are obsolete and crumbling. And with
oil products accounting for over 80% of power generation, the island depends on
Venezuela for fuel shipments. But shipments have been cut in half this year as
Venezuela struggles to ensure its own supply, forcing the Cuban government to
seek far more expensive fuel on the spot market.
The problem is that the Cuban government is running out of money as it grapples
with the island’s worst economic crisis in 30 years, so power cuts of up to 20
hours a day are now common. Indeed, Lazaro Guerra, Cuba’s top electricity
official, has said that Cubans “should not expect that when the system comes
back online the blackouts will end”."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
