How will Cuba's relationship with other countries impact the energy transition?

Cuba’s relationships with other countries will be key to realizing the energy transition. Since 2000, Venezuela has been Cuba’s primary source of imported oil. However, political and economic troubles in Venezuela caused oil exports to Cuba to fall by about half, resulting in Cuba increasingly seeking oil imports from Mexico and Russia.

How long have Cubans been without electricity?

If anyone knows about blackouts, it is the Cubans who have lived through at least the last 30 years of them. The government has labeled each period of crisis: from the Special Period and the Energy Revolution to La Coyuntura, during which Cubans have gone without electricity for increasingly long periods of time.

What happened to Cuba's power system?

Of late, Cubans compare their plight to the 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet Union prompted economic hardship and regular power cuts. The country’s superannuated power system is one part of the problem. The island relies on a handful of Soviet-era, oil-fired plants, most of which are half a century old and break down frequently.

Why did Cuba have a power outage?

It was not just another power outage; it represents a systemic failure in a country with aging infrastructure that does not produce enough energy to be self-sufficient. Cuba relies on imports it cannot afford and on trading partners that are supplying increasingly diminishing amounts of oil.

When was the last major energy crisis in Cuba?

The last major energy crisis in Cuba began at least a decade ago, according to specialists. A joint report by Torres and Piñón indicates that since 1990, electricity generation has grown very slowly, at an annual rate of just 1.1%, which is only a third of the global average.

Does Cuba rely on fossil fuels?

Cuba’s power system is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for about 95% of electricity generation, and about 48% of the fossil fuels used were imported, putting the country at high risk of price shocks and supply shortages.