LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

Energy ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

November 8, 2024

Why Does Cuba’s Electrical System Keep Collapsing?

Cuba’s electrical grid is heavily dependent on fuel oil. Workers at the Antonio Guiteras power plant are pictured in 2021. // Photo: Matanzas Municipal Government via Facebook.

Q

A

Ricardo Zúñiga, founding partner at Dinámica Americas and senior advisor with the U.S. Institute of Peace: “The breakdown of Cuba’s energy production and distribution system is an emergency, but it is neither an unexpected development nor can it be durably resolved under current political conditions. The national blackouts are symptomatic of the Cuban leadership’s inability to adapt to a changing international and domestic environment or do more than improvise around its self-imposed roadblocks to progress. Chronic underinvestment in the energy grid is echoed in other parts of the economy and society—including in basic infrastructure and in the education and health systems at the core of Cuba’s revolutionary identity. However, the Cuban government’s repressive apparatus remains quite capable…”

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ABOUT THE Energy ADVISOR

A sister publication of the Inter-American Dialogue’s daily Latin America Advisor, the weekly Energy Advisor captures fresh analysis from business leaders and government officials on the most important developments in oil and gas, biofuels, the power sector, renewables, new technologies, and the policy debates shaping the future of energy in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. To subscribe or for more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
Reporter

Nili Blanck
Reporter

board of advisors

Nigel Blackaby
Global Head, International Arbitration Group,
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Jimena Blanco
Chief Analyst,
Verisk Maplecroft

María José Cortés
Head of ESG,
Atlas Renewable Energy

Jeffrey Davidow
Senior Counselor,
The Cohen Group

Analia Gonzalez
Leader, Arbitration & Litigation,
Laitn America, BakerHostetler

Jonathan C. Hamilton
Partner,
White & Case

Raul Herrera
Partner, Corporate &
Securities Practice,
Arnold & Porter

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Jorge Kamine
Partner, Corporate &
Financial Services,
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Craig A. Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Government Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Jeremy Martin
Director,
Energy Program,
Institute of the Americas

Larry Pascal
Chairman, Americas
Practice Group,
Haynes & Boone

R. Kirk Sherr
President,
Clearview Strategy Group

Daniela Stevens
Director,
Energy Transition and Climate Program,
Inter-American Dialogue

Doris Rodríguez
Partner,
Hunton Andrews Kurth

Alexandra Valderrama
Director,
International Government
Affairs, Chevron

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