Outrage Erupts Over Latest Breakdown at Guiteras Power Plant: "Hand Over the Country"

The recent malfunction at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas has ignited a wave of anger on social media, with countless Cubans voicing their frustration over the endless blackouts, lack of water, spoiled food, and a government that remains silent. "They should resign and hand over the country; anyone else could do a better job," demanded one online user, echoing a sentiment that has become a national outcry.

Comments reveal a nation on the brink. "Every day, the incompetence of the leaders becomes more evident... It's impossible that the power plants break down daily. Or are they hiding the truth about the fuel shortage?" questioned another user, expressing outrage at what many see as deliberate misinformation.

The plight of Cubans is consistent throughout the island. They report enduring days and nights without electricity, with children and the elderly bearing the brunt of the sweltering heat. The scarce food that is available often spoils quickly. Everyday life is at a standstill.

In Cienfuegos, some areas have been without power for 36 hours. "How much longer? There are children, bedridden elderly, and spoiled food. There's no water. What more must we endure?" wrote one user, denouncing the situation as "disrespectful and inconsiderate."

The scenario in Matanzas is equally dire. "With or without Guiteras, we're in the dark for 16 to 20 hours straight. It's a total disaster," lamented another affected resident.

The frustration has reached a boiling point, with many calling for a complete shutdown of the system. "Shut them all down; they just save a bit of energy for themselves, and what about us?" one person wrote, while another added, "We might as well declare ourselves a primitive community."

Another Breakdown at Guiteras: A Foreseen Collapse

The Electric Union (UNE) confirmed on Tuesday that the Antonio Guiteras plant suffered another breakdown at nine in the morning due to a leak in the boiler. "It will take approximately 96 hours to reintegrate into the National Electric System," the state company announced on social media, meaning the plant will be offline for at least four days.

This is the second significant malfunction in less than ten days. The plant had previously gone offline on Sunday, July 20, due to a major breakdown, and although a 72-hour repair was estimated, it wasn't reconnected to the National Electric System until the early hours of Friday, July 25.

The Guiteras plant is the largest power generation unit in the country, with a capacity exceeding 200 megawatts, making its downtime a substantial loss for an already struggling system plagued by fuel shortages and issues at other plants like Energás. The Matanzas plant has suffered at least three severe failures just in July, not counting previous interruptions earlier in the year. The ongoing breakdowns, coupled with the authorities' lack of transparency, fuel citizens' suspicions that the situation is not only dire but also unsustainable.

"They spent months promising improvements in the summer, and it was all a lie. What we're experiencing is bleak, and still, there are no solutions," lamented a Cuban on social media.

As the crisis deepens, so does the consensus among Cubans that the government has lost all ability to respond effectively and has no credibility left in dealing with an energy crisis that has been dragging the country into an abyss for over three years.