Cuban authorities begin implementing scheduled blackouts | world and science

Reinaldo Garcia ZapataPlay / Social Networks

Posted on 01/08/2022 16:52

The Cuban authorities have begun to implement a blackout scheduled for Monday (1) in Havana. AFP confirmed that more than two months ago, the same measure was taken in other provinces on the island, which are struggling to produce and distribute energy.

Governor Reinaldo García Zapata, citing the state newspaper Tribuna de la Habana, said the capital’s 2.1 million residents would face two cut-offs per week of four hours each.

The cuts will not affect hospitals and other services such as water and gas, García Zapata guarantees.

This measure has angered residents in recent weeks, and some protests have been held in rural areas using pots and pans. The protests took place overnight because people are having a hard time sleeping this summer without fans or air conditioning.

The blackout was one of the drivers of the mass anti-government protests on July 11, 2021, the largest in 60 years. About 700 protesters are still trapped.

Power outages were scheduled due to maintenance work on old power generators and frequent failures in their facilities.

The average electrical system capacity in the country is currently 2,500 megawatts, which is insufficient for peak demand for homes, which is 2,900 megawatts, according to official data.