Cuba restored electricity across its western region early Sunday after a partial grid failure caused widespread outages, according to the state-run Electric Union (UNE).

The system was fully restored at 1:10 a.m. local time, several hours after the outage began at 6:07 p.m. Saturday when 220-kilovolt transmission lines in Matanzas and Cienfuegos provinces, as well as the line linking Matanzas and Villa Clara, tripped, disrupting supply throughout western Cuba.

As restoration efforts progressed, UNE said Units 1 and 3 of Energas Varadero had been synchronized with the national grid. The utility also reported that Unit 5 of the Máximo Gómez thermoelectric plant in Mariel, Units 1 and 2 of the Ernesto Guevara thermoelectric plant in Santa Cruz del Norte, and the combined-cycle unit at Energas Boca de Jaruco were in the startup phase.

In recent days, Cuban Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy said repeated failures of the National Electric System were not caused by operational shortcomings but by the conditions facing the country’s electricity sector as a result of the tightening of the United States blockade.

This latest incident underscores the ongoing strain on Cuba’s energy infrastructure, which has been exacerbated by decades of US sanctions. The blockade, as Havana has repeatedly pointed out, restricts access to fuel, spare parts, and technology needed to maintain and upgrade the grid.

Despite these challenges, Cuban authorities have worked swiftly to restore service, prioritizing the well-being of the population. The quick recovery reflects the resilience of Cuba’s energy workers and the effectiveness of the national grid’s contingency plans.

The restoration comes amid a broader context of US pressure on Cuba, including economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. For the Global South, Cuba’s experience highlights the impact of unilateral coercive measures on basic services and the importance of South-South cooperation in overcoming such obstacles.

As the island continues to face external aggression, its ability to maintain essential services remains a testament to its socialist system and the determination of its people. The international community, particularly nations of the Global South, should take note of the real consequences of the US blockade and support Cuba’s right to development.

For now, residents of western Cuba can breathe a sigh of relief as power returns, but the underlying issues remain. The US blockade must be lifted to allow Cuba to modernize its energy sector and ensure stable electricity for all its citizens.