Shining light on years of blackouts in Cuba

Youths on Havana's seafront Boulevard El Malecon. Picture / Reuters.

HAVANA - Cuba has declared an end to the daily blackouts that have wreaked havoc on peoples' lives and the economy since the collapse in 1991 of the country's former benefactor, the Soviet Union.

In the latest sign Cuba is recovering from a long economic crisis, Basic Industry Minister Yadira Garcia told Parliament that a US$1 billion programme to link hundreds of large generators to the energy grid meant there was 1000 megawatts more power available for the northern summer when demand peaks.

"In less than eight months conditions have been created that guarantee that there will be no blackouts in our country due to a lack of generating capacity," the minister said in her report published yesterday.

Last summer, long daily blackouts ruined holidays as Cubans fought mosquitoes in the heat and darkness, young people went without entertainment, and water wasn't pumped.

So far this year there have been few if any blackouts.

"Last year, between the darkness, the heat, the mosquitoes and the kids without television, homes became hell," said retiree Pedro Arias in Guantanamo province.

Generously financed Venezuelan oil from Castro ally President Hugo Chavez, a US$2 billion increase in revenues from service exports mainly to the South American country, and cheap Chinese credit have allowed Cuba to begin emerging from the crisis. President Fidel Castro has taken personal charge of what he calls an "energy revolution" that involves the use of the generators, an overhaul of the energy grid and the replacement of millions of old home appliances with more efficient Chinese products.

The island's seven aging oil-fired power plants can generate about 2700 megawatts, but operate at only 60 per cent of capacity because of breakdowns and maintenance halts. For over a decade, the plants have run on locally produced high-sulphur oil that clogs and damages the equipment.

For the past five years a lack of capacity has forced the country to close some 200 factories and adopt other emergency measures in the summer.

- REUTERS