This Thursday, the Provincial Electric Company of Guantánamo announced that a failure in the 110 kV line linking Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo resulted in a complete power outage across the province. At the time of the official announcement, the cause of the outage remained unknown.
The statement, shared on Facebook in the typical institutional notification format, briefly stated, "110 kV line trip, which supplies the province, Santiago–Guantánamo connection. We are without power in the province. Cause unknown."
Local residents commenting on the post reported that the outage happened around 5:20 PM, criticizing the delayed communication from the company. "It happened at 5:20 and they are only informing us now," one user noted.
The public's response was a mixture of frustration and sarcasm. Yasmin Pacheco Rivera remarked, "It's always Guantánamo that gets screwed, and since we don't matter much, they just let it happen."
Another comment criticized the inefficacy of the regime's proposed solutions: "There are so many panels in Gtmo, I don't know what the hell they're for."
Felipe Adriano Catalá Balón succinctly captured the general sentiment: "The information is fine, but... where's the solution?"
Enduring Infrastructure Challenges
This latest outage exacerbates an already severely weakened infrastructure. On June 7, the Unión Eléctrica admitted that eight transformers in the province were damaged — three in Baracoa, two in Maisí, two in El Salvador, and one in Manuel Tames — with no available equipment to repair them.
During that period, municipalities like Imías, San Antonio del Sur, Jamal, and Maisí endured up to 20 continuous hours without power, a scenario that has become routine in eastern Cuba.
Disparity Between Official Communication and Reality
The gap between official statements and the stark reality did not go unnoticed. Just the day before, the same provincial electric company had released a text titled "Voices that Illuminate: Call Center 18888," which sparked widespread ridicule on social media due to the stark contrast between its message and the real situation.
Guantánamo relies on a single high-voltage line to receive power from the National Electric System, making it especially susceptible to complete blackouts when that line fails. This structural dependency is compounded by Cuba's worst electrical crisis in years.
On Wednesday, the national electricity shortfall exceeded 2,010 MW during peak hours, with the country producing only a third of the power needed. The eastern provinces — Holguín, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo — are repeatedly the hardest hit, suffering outages that sometimes last more than 45 consecutive hours.
Back in March, Cuba experienced a total disconnection from the National Electric System, and in February, the eastern region was left entirely disconnected following failures at the Holguín substation.
Understanding the Power Outage Crisis in Guantánamo
What caused the power outage in Guantánamo?
The outage was caused by a failure in the 110 kV line connecting Santiago de Cuba to Guantánamo. As of the official announcement, the exact cause of the failure was not known.
How are residents reacting to the power outages?
Residents have expressed frustration and irony, criticizing the delayed communication and the inadequacy of the regime's solutions.
What is the state of electrical infrastructure in Guantánamo?
The electrical infrastructure is severely deteriorated, with damaged transformers and no available equipment for repairs, leading to routine extended outages in the region.