Cuba warns of increase in power outages due to fuel

Cuba warns of increase in power outages due to fuel shortage G1

1 of 2 freighters on the coast of Cuba — Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal Freighters on the coast of Cuba — Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal

Cuban authorities warned on national television that power outages would increase significantly due to fuel shortages, which could worsen the situation in the country, which is already suffering from food and medicine shortages.

The Caribbean country’s local governments have already begun announcing cuts in energy consumption at stateowned companies and other facilities, including new measures to postpone sporting events and university courses.

“We will no longer have as much fuel as we need or what we have had in recent months,” said the Minister of Energy Vicente de la O Levy in the program Mesa Redonda, broadcast on Wednesday evening together with the Minister of Economy. Alejandro Gil.

Both officials suggested that Cubans outside Havana, where residents have generally been spared from power outages, could expect power outages lasting eight to 10 hours a day. The cuts could begin in October.

The Caribbean country is in an economic crisis and has faced power outages and shortages of food, medicine and fuel since the coronavirus pandemic, sending its gross domestic product (GDP) 8% below 2020 levels and goods production falling by 40% the government.

Cuba maintains that U.S. sanctions, aimed at depriving the country of the foreign currency it needs to import most of its fuel, food and some other supplies, are largely responsible for the situation on the island.

The two ministers said on Wednesday that Cuba was making daily efforts to ensure the minimum amount of fuel necessary for the country’s operations, without explaining why the situation had continued to deteriorate.

2 of 2 Line for gasoline in Cuba Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal Line for gasoline in Cuba Photo: Alexandre Meneghini/Portal