State-affiliated journalist Ana Teresa Badía voiced her frustration on Facebook today, questioning why the Cuban government failed to deliver on its promise to reduce power outages during the summer. Several months ago, assurances were given that by July, the situation would improve. However, the reality now is a worsening energy crisis.
Badía demanded an explanation for the unmet promise, emphasizing the importance of aligning government statements with actual outcomes. "Is no one going to explain why the promise wasn't kept? What happened? At least I would like to know. No, I'm not pointing fingers, just seeking coherence," she asserted.
Her comments stirred a wave of responses from citizens and media professionals, who openly criticized the authorities and their handling of information on the issue. Journalist Osvaldo Rodríguez argued that Cuban media should investigate the causes and unfulfilled promises instead of echoing official statements from the Electric Union (UNE). He believes that officials make forecasts without being certain of their ability to fulfill them, creating false expectations and eroding trust.
Others, like comedian Jorge Bacallao, mocked the endless list of broken government promises, pointing out that pledges benefiting the public seldom materialize, while those that have adverse effects often do. Some commentators directly accused the authorities of lying without facing any consequences, leading to a complete loss of credibility and hope.
Reporter Ania Ortega expressed a sentiment shared by many: "We've long lost everything—credibility, trust, and shame." Reports from various provinces highlighted prolonged power outages exceeding 30 hours, a lack of official explanations, and simultaneous issues like water scarcity.
Comments from individuals such as Lídice Guridi Ramos from Cienfuegos and journalist Lourdes Pichs from Holguín indicate that the situation is more severe outside Havana. Participants noted that the absence of transparency fuels rumors and misinformation, reducing the citizens' right to clear and timely information to mere empty words. The distrust, many agreed, is not new but the result of years of unfulfilled rhetoric.
Unkept Promises and the Reality of Blackouts
Badía’s question encapsulates the feeling of millions of Cubans living in darkness: Why are promises made that can't be kept, and why is no one held accountable? The official response remains silence, while the population continues to bear the brunt of a collapsed electrical system.
In May 2025, the Cuban regime vowed that summer blackouts would not exceed four hours per day per customer. This statement was made by Argelio Jesús Abad Vigoa, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), and was published in Granma, the Communist Party of Cuba's official newspaper. The aim was clear: to ease social unrest ahead of the hottest period of the year.
According to this promise, the plan involved increasing generation by 13 GWh daily, restoring key thermal units like Felton 2, Mariel 7, Nuevitas 4, and Renté 4, and controlling consumption growth. Despite official data showing that available generation would be insufficient (1,120 MW against a demand exceeding 3,000 MW even overnight), the narrative of a "summer with only four hours of blackout" persisted.
On May 27, just six days after the promise, the government began to soften its stance as part of a new chapter in its ongoing failures. The state-run newspaper Trabajadores published a note acknowledging that blackouts would continue during July and August due to a structural deficit that could not be corrected in time.
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, Director of Electricity at MINEM, explained that the estimated availability would be only 1,935 MW against a potential demand of 3,500 MW. The deficit would exceed 1,500 MW, making it inevitable for blackouts to be longer than initially announced. This early admission hinted that the "four hours daily" promise was unsustainable from the start. Nevertheless, for weeks, the official discourse continued to speak of "improvements," "gradual strategies," and "intense work."
The shortage of liquefied gas forced thousands of households to use electric stoves, further exacerbating peak demand when electricity was restored. The grim reality is that thousands of Cuban families resorted to using charcoal for cooking due to the lack of both electric power and liquefied gas.
Government Acknowledges Inability to Meet Energy Goals
On July 19, during a plenary session of the National Assembly of People’s Power, Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy publicly confirmed what millions of Cubans already knew: the goal to reduce summer blackouts had not been achieved.
"We will return to the levels of disruption prior to the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant," he stated. The plant, recently synchronized with the National Electric System, had generated expectations that quickly faded. The minister justified the failure with fuel shortages, high international costs, and accumulated technical problems. However, he did not provide specific dates for potential recovery nor took responsibility for the broken promises.
The stark contrast between official propaganda and the public's real experience is reflected in hundreds of comments that Cubans post daily on social media and in public spaces. These comments paint a raw portrait of societal discontent after decades of unmet promises and a persistent energy crisis.
The recent shutdown of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant in Felton, Holguín, not only further crippled the already collapsing Cuban electrical system but also sparked a wave of outrage among citizens, who describe living under "inhumane" conditions due to the endless blackouts.
According to the UNE, unit 1 of the plant suffered a transformer failure requiring at least 20 days of repairs, worsening the generation deficit. As a result, entire families have faced power cuts lasting up to 30 continuous hours, with barely any time to regain normalcy between outages.
On Sunday, the UNE's report indicated that demand would reach 3,450 MW, but only 1,810 MW would be available, a 1,640 MW deficit that would translate to impacts of up to 1,710 MW for the population.
In August, in another critical piece, Badía stated that "Havana smells like garbage," referring to the tons of waste accumulating on the streets and corners of the Cuban capital due to untimely collection. The article highlighted the inefficiency of nearly all government structures: "I would say there is a galloping institutional indolence. Let's not blame everything on the blockade; there are things like empathy, work, and respect for citizens that don't depend on any blockade," she remarked.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What were the government's promises regarding summer blackouts?
In May 2025, the Cuban government promised that summer blackouts would not exceed four hours per day per customer, intending to alleviate social unrest during the hottest part of the year.
Why was the promise to reduce blackouts not fulfilled?
The promise was unfulfilled due to a structural deficit in energy production, with available generation being significantly lower than demand. Additional factors included fuel shortages, high international costs, and technical issues.
How did the public react to the broken promises?
The public reacted with criticism and frustration, expressing their discontent through social media and public forums. Many accused the authorities of lying and failing to take responsibility, leading to a loss of trust and hope.
What impact did the energy crisis have on Cuban households?
Cuban households faced prolonged power outages, forcing many to resort to using charcoal for cooking. The lack of electricity and liquefied gas disrupted daily life and exacerbated the population's hardships.