Havana Celebrated, But Cubans Remain Frustrated Over Guiteras Power Plant

The recent announcement by Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) about the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant reconnecting to the National Electric System (SEN) did not bring relief to Cubans. Instead, it sparked a wave of skepticism, sarcasm, and demands from weary citizens who have endured years of unpredictable and prolonged power outages with no hope for improvement. The UNE's statement, "Guiteras back online with the SEN," was met with disdain by many, who saw it as a meaningless gesture. For thousands, these words represented no change in their daily struggles, only intensifying the frustration with the Cuban regime's leadership and the government's communication "strategies" under Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Social media platforms, particularly the comments section on the state-run company's Facebook page, became a stage for the public to voice their exhaustion, anger, and hopelessness toward a system they perceive as increasingly unjust and unsustainable.

Power Plant Failures and Public Discontent

Located in Matanzas, the Guiteras plant is one of the country's crucial power sources but has been plagued by technical failures in recent months. Announcements about its operational status are frequent, yet they often have fleeting effects. Over the past two weeks alone, the plant has been in and out of the SEN multiple times due to boiler issues, leaks, unscheduled maintenance, and unforeseen situations.

The most recent synchronization, reported on Saturday, May 25, was no different. Complaints persisted about blackouts lasting between 15 and 22 hours in provinces such as Camagüey, Las Tunas, Cienfuegos, Holguín, Granma, Pinar del Río, Matanzas, and even in outer districts of Havana. The phrase "It’s online, but we’re still in the dark" became a common refrain.

A Nation Exhausted and Frustrated

Cubans, caught between irony and desperation, described living entire days without power, affecting not only their rest but also food preservation, water supply, cooking, and even the health of the elderly and sick. "Wages aren't enough, and what little we have spoils without a refrigerator," lamented one user. Others highlighted the inability to pump water in buildings, disrupted children's school routines, and the difficulty of sleeping due to heat and mosquitoes.

The absence of a reliable and official blackout schedule generates further despair. Without a clear timeline, people feel like they are living in the dark, unable to plan. "This is worse than the Special Period because at least we knew when the power would come," commented several users, urging a return to fixed, public schedules.

Perceived Inequality and Growing Resentment

A common grievance is the perception that Havana receives preferential treatment in electricity distribution. Many believe that the megawatts generated by the Guiteras plant are redirected to the capital to maintain an "image of normalcy" or to protect strategic areas. While Matanzas residents reportedly endure over 15 consecutive hours without electricity, with cuts even near the power plant itself, Havana residents, according to multiple accounts, experience shorter scheduled outages or even uninterrupted service in certain zones.

This situation fuels feelings of territorial discrimination. Phrases like "Guiteras works for Havana" or "Matanzas hosts the plant but gets no power" capture a sense of injustice that transcends mere complaint, approaching political indignation.

Official Inaction and Public Despair

Despite the outcry, the institutional response remains inadequate. Beyond brief daily updates about deficits and generation capacity, there are no clear explanations or short-term structural solutions. The public calls for better management, planning, real maintenance, or the construction of new plants, and accountability from directors. Yet, the state's response has been unchanging: silence, propaganda, or ineffective palliative measures.

"This has gotten out of hand," wrote one person. Some, in their frustration, even suggested "handing over the country" due to the inability to solve such a fundamental issue as electricity supply.

Representing widespread public sentiment, comments include: "If it’s online with the SEN, then the SEN is disconnected from the people," and "We’re in 20-hour blackouts, yet they say Guiteras is working... For whom?" Another comment reads, "I see the chimney smoking from my rooftop, but my house has candles." A sense of planned disrespect pervades: "This isn’t a technical problem; it's a planned disrespect."

Further remarks illustrate the depth of the crisis: "There isn’t even wood for cooking; this has become unsustainable," "Publish which province feels that power because here we only feel the heat," "Neither light nor blackout, it’s an energy abyss," "At this rate, Guiteras will work just for photos," and "Havana sleeps with air conditioning, the rest of the country with mosquitoes and tears."