HAVANA: Cuba’s national electrical grid shut down on Friday after one of the island’s major power plants failed, Cuba’s energy ministry said, plunging the entire country into a blackout.

The Communist-run government earlier in the day closed schools and non-essential industry and sent most state workers home in a last-ditch effort to keep the lights on for residents. But shortly before midday, the Antonio Guiteras power plant, the country’s largest and most efficient, went offline, prompting a total grid failure and leaving approximately 10 million people without power. “There will be no rest until (power) is restored,” Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X.

The crisis had already prompted officials to cancel all non-vital government services. Schools of all levels including universities, have been shuttered through Sunday. Recreational and cultural activities, including night clubs, were also ordered closed.

The government said only essential employees of the state-run food and healthcare industries should report to work on Friday. Grid officials said they did not know how long it would take to re-establish service.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2024