María Teresa Felipe Sosa, a Cuban influencer living in Spain who supports the Cuban regime and is known on social media as Tere Felipe, has stirred controversy by blaming Donald Trump for the power outages in Cuba. Her remarks have attracted significant criticism from fellow Cubans online.
In a post on X, she stated, "My country has experienced severe blackouts in recent hours... A whole nation's access to fuel is blocked, and there are people celebrating and blaming the government for the collapse. Cuba isn't falling; it's being suffocated by a pedophile fascist." Felipe describes herself on X as a "proud Cuban, art historian, communicator, and staunch supporter of Fidel, Marxism, and Leninism."
Following her tweet, many reminded her that blackouts have been a constant issue in Cuba, deeply rooted in the regime's inefficiency. "Even before the '90s, when funds were flowing from the CAME, there were blackouts, but it's always the fault of Yankee imperialism. Better come to your country where the real issues are, not just rant on Twitter," commented one Cuban.
Others highlighted the irony of supporting the regime while discussing blackouts from the comfort of Spain. "Tere, go there to support them. Opening X and typing from Spain is easy. Go and creatively resist," one person remarked. "Come, Tere, you can report better firsthand," another added.
Another user pointed out the regime's exploitative nature, saying, "A beggar country that always relies on others' charity while its resources and fertile lands remain untapped."
Electric System Disconnection and Energy Crisis
Meanwhile, in Cuba, the Electric Union (UNE) announced more blackouts for the weekend following the near-total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) last Wednesday, leaving a large part of the country without power.
Friday was particularly challenging, with a peak capacity deficit reaching 2046 MW at 7:10 pm, sparking protests in areas of Havana and Matanzas. According to UNE's report, as of 6:00 am on Saturday, SEN's availability was only 1000 MW against a demand of 2223 MW, leading to a 1266 MW shortfall, affecting millions of users directly.
The midday impact is estimated at 1250 MW, indicating the crisis persists even outside peak consumption times. The main causes of this deficit are focused on breakdowns and maintenance of generating units.
Currently, six units are out of service due to breakdowns at the CTE Mariel, Santa Cruz, Antonio Guiteras, Felton, and Antonio Maceo plants. In addition, three blocks are under maintenance at the Mariel, Nuevitas, and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plants. Additional limitations in thermal generation represent 322 MW out of operation.
This combination keeps the SEN operating with extremely limited capacity, leading to protests and pot-banging demonstrations in various parts of Havana due to the lack of electric service.
Understanding Cuba's Ongoing Energy Crisis
What is the main reason for the frequent blackouts in Cuba?
The frequent blackouts in Cuba are primarily due to the inefficiency of the regime in maintaining and upgrading the electric infrastructure, compounded by breakdowns and maintenance issues in power generation units.
How has the Electric Union of Cuba responded to the recent energy crisis?
The Electric Union of Cuba has announced additional blackouts due to the collapse of the National Electric System and is working to address breakdowns and perform maintenance on several power plants to mitigate the crisis.
What impact did the recent power outages have on the Cuban population?
The recent power outages affected millions of users in Cuba, leading to protests and demonstrations, particularly in Havana and Matanzas, as people expressed frustration over the lack of electric service.