Cuba grapples with major power outages amid fuel arrivals
About 50% of Cuba's territory has been left without electricity due to the energy crisis on the island, as reported by local Cuban Radio Marti. Two tankers carrying a total of 126,000 metric tonnes of diesel fuel have arrived on the island. Although the shipments originate from ports in Denmark and the Netherlands, they were sent by Russia.
The radio station determined through conversations with local residents of various regions on the island that long-term electricity shortages are occurring in provinces such as Camagüey, Santiago de Cuba, and Havana.
According to Radio Marti, power outages in several towns on the island have lasted for several days, which, as the station reported, "intensifies the population's dissatisfaction."
It specified that electricity shortages have led to widespread water and internet shortages on the island.
Since October, there have been regular stoppages at Cuba's main Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas, in the western part of the island. The authorities of the company responsible for the distribution of electricity, UNE, claim that the widespread power shortages at this power plant in recent days are due to failures of several power units.
As of Sunday, according to UNE management, the power plant in Matanzas is set to fully resume operations after repairs that started on Tuesday.
Two tankers have arrived in Cuba with a total load of 126,000 metric tonnes of diesel fuel.
It is assumed that this shipment, estimated at $81 (CAD 113) million, was paid for with a loan provided by Russia, said the independent Cuban online newspaper 14ymedio.
As Radio Marti reminded, Russian authorities announced at the beginning of November that they would send fuel to the island to address the ongoing energy crisis. The Kremlin declared at the time that it would support the authorities in Havana with a loan to purchase at least 88,000 metric tonnes of diesel fuel.
According to Cuban media reports, the first tanker that arrived at the port in Matanzas, in the western part of the island, is the Liberian-flagged vessel "Corossol." It set sail for the Caribbean island from Rotterdam on November 4 with 88,000 metric tonnes of fuel.
The second diesel fuel shipment was delivered to the port in Matanzas by the German "Seamarlin." It departed for Cuba from the port of Skagen in Denmark on November 4 with a load of 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel.
