Havana Residents face Increasing Blackouts Amidst Summer Heat
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Power outages intensify across Havana, impacting daily life and sparking unrest as summer temperatures rise.
By Amelia Rodriguez | HAVANA – 2025/06/25 11:55:51
![In the busy crossing of L and 23, in the bass of Havana Libre, a patrol seemed to manage the passage of vehicles on one side and another, but no: the same police car tried to make their way in chaos.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 9"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
/ 14ymedio
Residents in Havana are grappling with increasingly frequent and prolonged blackouts, impacting daily life even in tourist hotspots like Vedado. Once relatively spared, these areas now experience power cuts lasting for hours, disrupting routines and raising tensions.
Even popular leisure destinations such as the Cuban Art Factory (FAC) are not immune to the outages.
Growing Frustration and Protests
“People are physically and mentally fatigued…it is impossible to sleep.”
In other parts of the capital,the power outages are relentless. A resident of Guanabacoa reports, “They are taking the current virtually all morning. Here they removed it last night from 12:20 am to 2:00 am and after 4:30 am to 7:00 am. And now it’s from 11 am to 3 pm. Not talking to you that we have been without water for four days.” The woman added that some neighbors claimed to have heard cacerolazos “for the amphitheater,” while residents in Cerro reported protests near the sports casino.
The Guanabacoa resident further lamented, “I live stuck to an avenue and the silence is incredible. People are physically and mentally exhausted. They go to bed nervously knowing that at any time they can remove the current and, with these heats, I assure you that it is impossible to sleep.” She expressed concern that “this is only starting, now the months of more heat come.”
Coppelia did have electricity, but it didn’t matter: it didn’t service because the ice cream had arrived from the factory.melted” height=”9″ width=”16″/>/ 14ymedio
Worsening Energy Deficit
The electric union of Cuba (UNE) projects a deficit exceeding Monday’s forecast for Tuesday’s peak hours. With an availability of 1,830 megawatts (MW) against a maximum demand of 3,550 MW,the deficit is expected to reach 1,720 MW,affecting an estimated 1,790 MW.
According to the UNE, service was affected throughout the previous day, with the situation persisting into the morning.The maximum impact reached 1,760 MW, occurring at 10 pm, later than the time of maximum demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
what are the main causes of the blackouts in Havana?
The blackouts are primarily caused by aging infrastructure, increased demand for electricity, and insufficient generation capacity.
How are the blackouts affecting daily life in Havana?
The blackouts are disrupting routines, impacting businesses, and causing discomfort and hardship for residents, especially during the hot summer months.
What is the government doing to address the energy crisis?
The government is working to increase electricity generation and transition to renewable energy sources, but progress has been slow.
