While the state-run newspaper Granma focuses its headlines and resources on condemning the destruction of the electrical system in the Gaza Strip, Cubans continue to endure a chronic collapse of their own energy infrastructure. This collapse is not due to war but is instead the result of decades of neglect, corruption, and poor state management.
In an article published this past Sunday, the official organ of the Cuban Communist Party echoed a report by Prensa Latina, blaming Israel for causing approximately $728 million in damages to Gaza's electrical system over two years of attacks. The state media outlet detailed that more than 80% of distribution networks were destroyed, along with 90% of the local company's warehouses, according to a Palestinian spokesperson.
However, Granma and the rest of the official press remain silent about a similar, albeit self-inflicted, catastrophe unfolding on the Island: the collapse of the National Electrical System (SEN). For years, Cubans have suffered blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day, constant breakdowns at thermal power plants, and an energy deficit that keeps the country in darkness.
Data from the Ministry of Energy and Mines reveals that over 60% of Cuba's power plants have been in operation for more than 35 years, suffering from inadequate maintenance and a lack of spare parts. Compounding these issues is the inefficiency of the Electric Union (UNE), the lack of investment in renewable energies, and the diversion of resources to the military and tourism sectors, controlled by GAESA, the military's economic conglomerate.
While the Cuban regime calls for international solidarity with the Palestinian cause, it fails to acknowledge the energy crisis that has turned daily life into a battle for survival: non-functional stoves, spoiled food, hospitals without electricity, and students doing homework by candlelight.
It is ironic that Granma laments the "destruction of the electrical system" in another country when its own is crumbling without bombs or blockades. What Israel has allegedly destroyed in Gaza over two years, Castroism has accomplished in Cuba over six decades of incompetence and total control.
The Cuban people do not need speeches about rebuilding foreign networks; they need light in their homes, transparency in governance, and the freedom to demand a government that does not hide its blackouts behind the noise of other conflicts.
In Cuba, darkness is not an act of nature; it is imposed by the regime.
Addressing Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is primarily caused by decades of neglect, corruption, and poor state management. Inadequate maintenance of aging power plants, the inefficiency of the Electric Union, and a lack of investment in renewable energy sources further exacerbate the issue.
How has the energy crisis affected daily life in Cuba?
The energy crisis has severely impacted daily life in Cuba, with frequent blackouts lasting up to 20 hours a day. This has led to non-functional stoves, spoiled food, hospitals without electricity, and students forced to do homework by candlelight.
Why does the Cuban government focus on Gaza's electrical issues?
The Cuban government focuses on Gaza's electrical issues as part of its international political stance and to promote solidarity with the Palestinian cause. This focus allows the regime to divert attention from its domestic issues and maintain its narrative against external adversaries.