The absurdity of the Cuban regime seemingly knows no bounds, with common sense rarely making the list of priorities. As millions of Cubans endure blackouts lasting up to 24 hours daily, the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermoelectric Plant in Cienfuegos has announced plans to parade a replica of its chimney on May Day as a symbol of workplace pride. This initiative starkly highlights the disconnect between official propaganda and the harsh reality faced by the nation.
According to the Cuban News Agency (ACN), around 200 employees from the plant will participate in this Thursday's parade at the Cienfuegos Plaza de Actos, leading the Energy and Mines Union procession. Meanwhile, the remaining staff will stay behind to continue both power generation and repair efforts.
The replica mirrors the original red and white tower, adorned with the initials CMC, which ACN describes as a symbol of "stability" for Cienfuegos residents: "they feel a sense of stability when they see the chimney smoke rise into the sky after the units start up," the official report admits, while also conceding that this smoke is far from a regular occurrence.
Maxlenin Rodríguez Jiménez, a Communication Specialist at the entity, stated that the collective approaches the parade "encouraged" by their achievement of completing major repairs on units three and four, with "pride in maintaining their blocks as the most stable and efficient in the National Electric System."
The irony is palpable. As of April 29, 2026, unit four of this very plant is in the startup process with a forecast of merely 80 MW during peak hours, within a system suffering an electrical generation deficit exceeding 1,400 MW daily.
Unit three, on the other hand, has a history that contradicts any triumphant narrative: it was reactivated in May 2025 after three months of repairs, but the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant exited the electrical system just four days later due to a boiler leak, only to experience another shutdown due to a condenser failure on September 12, 2025.
In this context, power outages in Cuba are intensifying, with provinces such as Holguín, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba enduring cuts of up to 24 hours daily in April 2026. The country has witnessed seven total system collapses in just 18 months.
The parade was called by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz under the slogan "The Homeland is Defended," as part of the "Year of Defense Preparation" and the "State of War" plans approved by Raúl Castro on March 27, 2026.
Marrero's war rhetoric for mobilizing May Day made the propagandistic nature of the event clear, as it is organized through unions, Committees for the Defense of the Revolution, and state transportation.
Rodríguez Jiménez assured that the group will bring "joy and color with the Cuban flag, the labor feat flag, and red, blue, white banners and patriotic signs," and that among the parade participants will be "outstanding and innovative young people who have kept the plant running with their inventiveness," a phrase that inadvertently sums up decades of forced improvisation due to a lack of spare parts and investment.
Parading with the image of a chimney that, in the everyday lives of millions of Cubans, represents absence more than presence—when it doesn't smoke, there's no light—while the country is going through one of the worst energy crises in its history, succinctly encapsulates the gulf between regime propaganda and the reality endured by the Cuban people.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Propaganda
Why is the parade of a chimney replica controversial in Cuba?
The parade of a chimney replica is controversial because it symbolizes pride amidst ongoing severe power outages, highlighting the disconnect between official propaganda and the harsh realities faced by the Cuban population.
What is the significance of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermoelectric Plant in Cienfuegos?
The Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermoelectric Plant is crucial for power generation in Cuba. However, it has been plagued by operational issues, contributing to the country's ongoing energy crisis.
How does the Cuban regime use propaganda in the context of national crises?
The Cuban regime often employs propaganda to project an image of stability and success, even in the face of national crises like energy shortages, using events such as parades to reinforce this narrative.