The Cuban Government has decided to maintain summer time until November 2027. This decision was made in response to the energy crisis the country has faced for two years, resulting in daily power outages exceeding 20 hours.
A joint official note, issued on Saturday by the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, established that summer time will remain active until November 7, 2027, the date scheduled for the change next year.
According to this statement, the measure is directly related to the worsening blockade and specifically to the energy siege imposed by the United States government, which causes a shortage of fuel necessary for electricity production.
With this extension, it is expected to prevent an increase in power failures, which was projected at 126 megawatts (MW) during the afternoon, the peak period of electricity consumption. The document clarifies that 76 MW of this total come from savings generated by not using artificial lighting, and 50 MW originate from photovoltaic solar energy generation during the same period.
Additionally, the official note emphasizes that, aiming not to compromise social activities in the early hours of the day, the start of classes and work will be postponed by 30 minutes, covering the period from November 1, 2026, to March 14, 2027. Entities that operate continuously can also adjust their entry and exit times according to the characteristics of their operations.
In another development, Cuba announced on October 12 a reform in the oil and gas sector, allowing concessions to foreign investors and opening space for local private actors, as part of the country's economic liberalization.
The United States implemented an oil embargo against the communist island since January, which intensified the economic and energy crisis affecting the nation, which has 9.4 million inhabitants. Several state-owned companies and leaders of the oil sector have also suffered sanctions from Washington.
Cuba manages to produce 40% of the oil it consumes, and this production is fundamental for the operation of seven old power plants that sustain its grid. Washington restricts the supply of US fuel only to the new Cuban private sector. However, these acquisitions, authorized since February, represent only 3% of national needs, according to authorities.
Officially, there are more than 15 thousand small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Cuba, employing more than a third of the workforce. U.S. President Donald Trump considers the communist island, located 150 kilometers off the coast of Florida, an 'extraordinary threat' to U.S. national security, having repeatedly warned about the possibility of 'taking control' of the country.