HAVANA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cuba will maintain daylight saving time until Nov. 7, 2027 to mitigate its power generation shortfall, which has been exacerbated by tighter U.S. sanctions and fuel supply restrictions, local authorities said Saturday.
The measure is expected to reduce evening peak demand by about 126 megawatts (MW), helping curb power outages, according to a joint statement by the Ministry of Energy and Mines and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Of the estimated savings, 76 MW will come from reduced electricity consumption for artificial lighting and 50 MW from solar photovoltaic generation, the statement said.
To minimize disruptions to morning activities, schools and workplaces will open 30 minutes later from Nov. 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027, when standard time would normally be in effect.
Cuba has faced a severe blackout crisis for nearly two years, which worsened in January 2026 after the U.S. government threatened to impose sanctions on countries supplying fuel to the island. Havana has condemned the measure as violation of international law. ■