Cuba orders further cuts to power generation

• 5 years ago (2019-04-22)
• David Flin

Latin America 75 Oil 15

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The Cuban government has ordered its state-run power system to further reduce electricity generation. Invasor , Ciego de Avila’s provincial newspaper, reported that local generation would be cut by 10 per cent to save fuel as part of a nation-wide reduction. More than 95 per cent of the country’s electricity is generated by oil-fired plants.

The newspaper said: “We are at a critical point, according to the electric union, and if at certain times of the day the fuel for the day runs out, we will have to shut down some circuits.” The paper added that no programmed blackouts were planned for now.

Last month the USA began sanctioning ships and companies carrying Venezuelan fuel to Cuba. Cuba barters medical and other assistance for the oil, and it will be hard-pressed to find an alternative, given the cash crunch.

Communist Party leader Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel have both told the National Assembly that the country should prepare for hard times, but a more diversified economy meant that it would not be as harsh as the 1990s.