Vicente de la O Levy, Cuba's Minister of Energy and Mines, criticized the United States on Wednesday during a segment on Cuban television's Mesa Redonda, accusing the U.S. of directly hindering repair efforts at several of the country's power plants.
"We had to complete the repair of Céspedes Four (a power plant generation unit) without the necessary software because the United States denied us access to the application needed to fine-tune and start the unit," he stated.
The minister attributed Cuba's energy crisis to the U.S. embargo, highlighting the island's technological vulnerabilities and its reliance on international resources and services to maintain electric generation.
Internal Solutions and Technological Challenges
In the case of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes power plant in Cienfuegos, the minister highlighted the resort to domestic solutions, involving multiple state entities.
"We had to collaborate with the military industry, the Ministry of Industry, colleagues from the Electronics Group, and the Electrical Union to come up with a national solution. It was time-consuming due to the complexity of the technologies," he detailed, emphasizing the improvisation that often serves as a response to Cuba's structural deficiencies.
Technical and Logistical Hurdles
The minister also addressed issues at the Antonio Guiteras power plant, one of Cuba's most significant facilities. He pointed out that following the acquisition of companies in the U.S. linked to the plant's construction, new technical and logistical challenges have emerged.
He further alleged that foreign technical staff have been withdrawn amid ongoing work at other plants due to presumed U.S. pressure.
"Technicians who were actively engaged in units like Felton received phone calls, packed up their toolkits, and left," he recounted, highlighting the instability in international technical support.
Impact on Cuban Population
These statements come amid a backdrop of extended power outages across the country, severely impacting both the populace and the economy. While the government continues to point to external factors, public discontent is rising over the absence of sustainable solutions to the energy crisis.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Dilemma
How has the U.S. embargo affected Cuba's energy sector?
The U.S. embargo has limited Cuba's access to necessary technology and resources, making it difficult to maintain and repair critical infrastructure like power plants.
What measures has Cuba taken to address power plant repairs internally?
Cuba has turned to internal solutions by engaging various state entities, such as the military industry and the Electronics Group, to collaborate on repair efforts.
What are the main challenges faced by Cuba's power plants?
Cuba's power plants encounter technical and logistical difficulties, exacerbated by restrictions on accessing international expertise and technology.