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Cuba Faces Power Outages as Díaz-Canel Travels to Belarus

Wednesday, June 25, 2025 by Alex Smith

Cuba Faces Power Outages as Díaz-Canel Travels to Belarus
Miguel Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta - Image by © X

Amidst a severe national energy crisis and escalating social unrest, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel embarks on yet another official tour, this time heading to Belarus. "Dear people: We are departing for Belarus to conduct an official visit and attend the meeting of the Eurasian Economic Supreme Council," the president posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). While millions of Cubans endure power outages lasting up to 24 hours, struggling in the heat, with mosquitoes, and hopelessness, Díaz-Canel declared his plans to visit bio-pharmaceutical and agricultural companies in the "sister nation."

Diplomatic sources confirmed that the leader will be in Belarus on June 25 and 26, engaging in bilateral talks and participating in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, one of his key international allies. According to Santiago Pérez Benítez, the Cuban ambassador in Minsk, the relationship between the two governments is "excellent," and the trip could signify a "qualitative leap" in bilateral cooperation, covering critical areas such as biotechnology, healthcare, agricultural machinery, education, and sanatorium tourism.

More than 40 agreements have been signed between universities, over 50 Belarusian medications have been certified, and plans are underway to modernize agricultural equipment and establish assembly centers on the Island, he noted recently. Meanwhile, the stark reality faced by the majority of the Cuban population is vastly different from the international agenda of the president, who is also traveling with his wife, Lis Cuesta.

On Monday, June 23, the Union Eléctrica (UNE) reported that Cuba experienced disruptions throughout the previous day, with a peak deficit of 1,650 MW occurring at 9:50 p.m., compounded by the collapse of the thermal generation system, fuel shortages, and outdated technology. For the peak time on Monday night, a deficit of 1,770 MW was projected, nearly half of the national demand. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans live without electricity for extended periods, relying on brief and insufficient "alumbrones" that are inadequate even for food preservation.

The 16 solar parks recently installed have contributed peaks of 402 MW, a marginal figure compared to an electrical system on the brink of collapse. The announcement of the new presidential tour comes amid a backdrop of social fervor, marked by unprecedented student protests against the abrupt hike in mobile internet tariffs imposed by the state-owned ETECSA. The new dollar-based tariffs and the elimination of recharges in Cuban pesos have been seen as a blow to digital equity.

University students have called for academic strikes and demanded profound economic reforms. The government's response has been to delegitimize the protests, labeling them as manipulated by "enemies of the system," while offering measures that fail to address the root of the problem. The proximity to authoritarian regimes like those in Belarus or Russia, rather than alleviating the internal situation, heightens skepticism about the true benefits of these alliances. Many question whether the outcomes of these visits ever translate into tangible improvements for the everyday lives of Cubans.

Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Political Climate

What is causing the power outages in Cuba?

The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to a collapse in the thermal generation system, fuel shortages, and outdated technology, resulting in a significant energy deficit.

Why is Díaz-Canel visiting Belarus?

Díaz-Canel is visiting Belarus to engage in bilateral discussions and participate in the Eurasian Economic Union summit, as well as to explore cooperation in sectors like biotechnology and agriculture.

How are the new internet tariffs affecting Cubans?

The new internet tariffs, which are dollar-based and involve the elimination of recharges in Cuban pesos, are seen as undermining digital equity and have sparked significant student protests.

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