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6mo ago

Cuba Faces Energy Crisis Amidst Prolonged Blackouts and Delayed Solar Expansion

The island nation struggles with power outages, exacerbated by a hurricane, as efforts to expand solar energy lag behind promises.

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Cuban police and military stand next to debris used to block a street during a protest against a blackout, after opening the street up to traffic, in Havana, Cuba October 19, 2024. REUTERS/Norlys Perez/File Photo
The shadows of people are cast on a wall through the lights of a passing car, as their street remains without electricity while Cuba is making progress restoring power to swaths of the Caribbean island nation, both in Havana and outlying provinces, after the entire national electrical grid crashed last Friday, in Havana, Cuba October 21, 2024. REUTERS/Norlys Perez/File Photo

Overview

  • Cuba's recent blackouts affected 10 million people, highlighting the country's reliance on outdated fossil fuel power plants and insufficient solar infrastructure.
  • Experts criticize Cuba's slow progress in solar energy development, despite commitments to increase renewable energy to 37% by 2030 under the Paris Agreement.
  • The U.S. trade embargo, internal policy issues, and economic challenges are cited as major obstacles to foreign investment in Cuba's energy sector.
  • The government has extended school and workplace closures as it works to restore power after a major plant failure and Hurricane Oscar's impact.
  • Cuban officials acknowledge the need for more widespread adoption of solar power, with plans to ramp up installations significantly over the next decade.