Cuba turns off some public lighting as energy crisis worsens

FILE PHOTO: Turkish powerships work at the Havana's bay in Havana, Cuba, February 17, 2023. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini/File Photo

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba has switched off nearly three-quarters of public lighting during peak hours to cope with a growing energy shortage, state media reported on Tuesday, as hopes to reverse a deepening economic crisis dim.

The blackouts, which disrupt daily life and the economy, have plagued the Communist-run country for several years but have worsened in recent months due to a lack of fuel and the need to maintain decrepit infrastructure.