As Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed on October 20, entering its third day of outages, the severe consequences of prolonged power loss are becoming increasingly evident.
Jorge Pinṍn, a senior researcher at the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin and an expert on Cuba’s power grid, told the Miami Herald that Cuba’s thermal power plants have been operating for too long without maintenance or investment.
Cuban technicians are working to restore the power grid after it collapsed on October 18 (Photo: Granma)
Some hospitals still have electricity. However, the remainder are relying on generators, and available fuel supplies are extremely limited, raising concerns about what will happen if patients truly face the darkness.
Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero has ordered the shutdown of all non-essential commercial activities, meaning that the people of Cuba are unable to earn money. Schools and universities are also closed until further notice.
“We never thought the situation would become as dire as it is today. This is a complete collapse,” Pinṍn stated, emphasizing the unprecedented situation in Cuba. “In South America, there are countries that face electricity issues. But not to the severity seen in Cuba.”
Experts believe that the consequences of prolonged power outages extend beyond living in uncomfortable heat and lacking modern conveniences. People will get sick and face increased mortality risks due to lack of access to necessary medical services or treatments. The inability to go to work also means many cannot earn enough money to buy food and other basic necessities.
The populace “cannot survive without electricity,” Pinṍn said.
Cuban people living in blackout (Photo: Reuters).
No Power, No Medical Services
Cuba shares a neighbor, the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which is also very familiar with living in prolonged darkness. The island experienced the longest power outage in U.S. history after Hurricane Maria devastated its infrastructure in 2017, with some areas remaining without power for nearly a year.
Immediately after the 2017 hurricane, the Puerto Rican government reported several fatalities due to flooding, collapsed buildings, and landslides. However, researchers later discovered in subsequent investigations that thousands died from indirect causes.
A study by George Washington University in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico found nearly 3,000 deaths in the six months following Hurricane Maria. Factors such as age or living in impoverished areas contributed to these fatalities.
“Many of those deaths were due to lack of electricity. People couldn’t address their medical conditions,” said Cathy Kunkel, an energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, specializing in Puerto Rico’s power grid.
At that time, Puerto Ricans were unable to use home oxygen machines; keep temperature-sensitive lifesaving medications like insulin cold; adjust hospital beds or charge electric wheelchairs; or attend dialysis and chemotherapy sessions. Living without electricity could put people, especially the elderly and children, at risk of heat-related illnesses and other associated diseases.
With no power to operate water pumps, many Puerto Ricans had to use any available water sources for their daily needs. This included using water from rivers, streams, and contaminated supplies. The Puerto Rico Investigative Journalism Center reported 26 deaths from leptospirosis, a waterborne bacterial disease, in the six months following the hurricane. This figure was more than double that of the previous year.
For hospitals and medical centers that need to perform time-sensitive procedures or store medications and vaccines at specific temperatures—or simply require electricity to examine and treat patients—power outages pose significant logistical challenges.
The Frente Ciudadano por la Auditoria de la Deuda organization, an advocacy group in Puerto Rico, commemorated those who died after Hurricane Maria due to lack of electricity by hosting an exhibition. People wrote letters about how their loved ones and neighbors died from lack of oxygen tanks, ventilators, and medical equipment.
In recent years, many on the island, primarily the elderly, have also died from fires caused by the generators or candles they used to avoid living in darkness.
Lack of electricity can also trigger or exacerbate mental health issues. Psychologist Eduardo Lugo of the University of Puerto Rico recently reported that Puerto Rico’s government mental health hotline received 7,300 calls in three weeks from people affected by power grid-related issues.
“It just complicates everything more each day,” Kunkel said. “After Hurricane Maria, especially in rural areas, people wonder, ‘Will electricity ever come back? Will this situation ever be resolved?’”
Square area in Havana plunged into darkness (Photo: Reuters).
The Economy in Darkness
The power outages also affect the economy and businesses. Prime Minister Marrero Cruz stated that the island’s economy is now paralyzed.
In Puerto Rico, it is not uncommon for businesses to close due to power outages. Some restaurants still operate with gas stoves during outages, but both staff and diners must endure unbearable heat.
“If you’re a small business owner and have to frequently close due to power outages, or have to invest in generators to keep operating, it drives costs up significantly,” Kunkel said.
Pinṍn, an energy expert in Cuba, noted that the power outages will not only affect domestic businesses but also impact international tourists visiting the island, who contribute to the local economy.
“With this situation along with global news, Cuba could see a further decline in tourist numbers,” Pinṍn said.
Children and university students in Cuba may also face delays or interruptions in their education due to power outages.
After Hurricane Maria, it took a month for children to return to public schools, although most classrooms still lacked electricity. The outages also raise the question of whether this could trigger a new wave of migration, as emigration from Cuba has reached record levels.
Cuba’s power grid ceased operations on October 18 after an incident at a power plant in the western province of Matanzas caused a total grid failure. Since then, the government has declared a state of emergency as workers attempt to restore power.
On October 20, the island’s energy agency reported that generation capacity would continue to increase throughout the day. However, many vast areas of the country remain in darkness.
Pinṍn indicated that even if the energy system is restored, there is no short-term solution. “We will see some minor repairs here and there in the coming weeks. But we will soon return to this situation,” he said.
