The energy crisis engulfing Cuba deepens with each passing day. On Monday, June 24, the Unión Eléctrica (UNE) announced that the nation experienced power outages throughout the previous day and into the early hours of today. According to the state-run company, the maximum disruption recorded was 1,760 MW at 10:00 p.m., a figure slightly less than predicted but alarmingly close to recent historical peaks.
Despite official claims that the situation will improve with the onset of summer, the statistics, the arrival of the hottest time of the year, and public outcry suggest otherwise. At 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the National Electric System (SEN) had an availability of 1,760 MW, with a demand of 3,050 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,305 MW.
Growing Public Frustration
Social media is rife with discontent. "We Cubans are like zombies walking by inertia," lamented one user in response to the UNE's Facebook post, which reported outages exceeding 18 hours. A woman from Las Tunas complained about entire nights spent without power, while another summed up the collective sentiment: "They're killing us slowly."
Others mocked the alleged improvement plan announced by the government: "We're advancing, getting closer to a 2,000 MW deficit every day," quipped a Cuban. "How long must we endure this?" questioned another, describing the spoilage of food and the suffering caused by heat and mosquitoes.
Infrastructure Struggles
At night, the projected deficit could reach 1,790 MW, with a peak demand of 3,550 MW and insufficient backup, despite the anticipated addition of just 70 MW from the CTE Santa Cruz unit 1. The situation is exacerbated by ongoing breakdowns and maintenance issues, with six thermal units offline and 96 distributed generation plants shut down due to fuel shortages. Additionally, 97 MW are affected by a lack of oil in engines, escalating the total impact in this segment to 885 MW. Meanwhile, the 16 solar photovoltaic parks contributed a mere 1,756 MWh, a symbolic figure in light of the massive shortfall.
Lingering Power Cuts in Havana
The Havana Electric Company released the official schedule for power cuts due to generation deficits on Monday, June 24, confirming prolonged outages in the capital amid the nation's energy collapse. The schedule posted on the state entity's Facebook page outlined the affected blocks:
- Block B3: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
- Block B4: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- Block B5: 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Block B1: 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Block B2: 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
If the SEN conditions demand, these disruptions may extend past midnight, repeating the sequence of blocks, starting with circuits not affected during the regular hours. The additional disruptions could last up to an hour per block.
The official note also reminds users that those not listed in this schedule might be experiencing technical failures, and suggests contacting institutional service channels, albeit acknowledging the difficulty of addressing all cases. This plan does not account for the actual national generation deficit, exceeding 1,700 MW daily, leaving numerous Havana municipalities with over 24-hour interruptions, as reported by multiple users on social media.
No End in Sight
With many areas enduring blackouts for over a day and the official promise of improvements by summer seeming hollow, Cuba is edging towards a total electrical collapse. The public has lost faith in technical reports, government promises, and statistics, relying only on their own exhaustion.
"Each day is worse than the last. There is no solution, no will, no respect," concluded one user. In this climate of despair, the light in Cuba is not only absent from homes but also fading from the hope of its people.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing Cuba's energy crisis?
Cuba's energy crisis is primarily due to outdated infrastructure, frequent breakdowns, maintenance issues, and a severe shortage of fuel and oil.
How are power outages affecting Cuban citizens?
The power outages are causing significant disruptions in daily life, leading to food spoilage, discomfort due to heat and mosquitoes, and widespread public frustration.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the crisis?
The government has announced plans to improve the situation by summer, but many citizens remain skeptical as outages continue and no significant improvements are seen.