After Cuba experienced its eighth nationwide blackout of the year on Friday, social media erupted with expressions of frustration and exasperation: "When will this end?"
In a live broadcast on the state-run Canal Caribe, engineer Félix Estrada Rodríguez, who serves as the director of the National Load Dispatch of the Electric Union, explained that the collapse originated in the central region of the country.
"A failure occurred in the high-voltage transmission network in the central part of the country, causing the entire system to crash completely." The breakdown was triggered by the successive disconnection of two 220 kV transmission lines—first between Matanzas and Cienfuegos, followed by Matanzas and Santa Clara—leading to a division of the system into eastern and western zones before both collapsed entirely.
The official detailed on television that the restoration protocol began at the Jaruco units and moved towards the thermoelectric plants of Santa Cruz and Mariel, with priority given to hospitals and water pumping stations.
However, he admitted that the recovery process would be slower than usual due to the absence of crucial technologies: distributed generation, MOA engines, Mariel barges, and diesel and fuel oil supplies. "At this moment, we do not have this technology available," he acknowledged.
The Canal Caribe report video from the National Load Dispatch amassed nearly 193,000 views and more than 5,800 reactions on Facebook, with hundreds of comments reflecting a population at the end of its patience.
"We’re almost used to these blackouts... they’re systematic," wrote one internet user. Another was more direct: "The National Electric System (SEN) is always down, it fails more than it works."
One user outright rejected the official narrative: "This is like a crab, moving backward, stop justifying with the damned blockade."
Several questioned the technical explanation: "I don’t know a thing about electrical engineering, but it’s clear that the SEN is one of the biggest failures of the modern era, and the WORST part is the insistence on centralizing energy sources."
Another user asked sarcastically: "I don’t understand if we’ve been without power for about seven months, why does the SEN keep failing, or is someone pushing it down?"
Distrust in official information is widespread. "If I were a representative of the Cuban electric system, I wouldn’t show my face on TV, I’d rather hide than speak to the people," stated one internet user.
Another claimed that "it’s all just talk," and suggested that someone should connect the specialist and President Díaz-Canel to the system "to see if they get a little charge in their heads or if the whole thing finally breaks down."
"This is the same old story, over and over again," lamented another commenter.
Recently, the Electric Union has updated the public on the SEN situation, but the news leaves little room for optimism.
This Saturday morning, Havana reached 44.2% recovery, with 126 out of 286 distribution circuits operational. There are 25 out of 26 substations in service, six out of 18 pumping systems functioning, and 45 hospitals with electricity. No timeline has been confirmed for full restoration.
Understanding Cuba's Power Outages
What caused the recent nationwide blackout in Cuba?
The blackout was triggered by a failure in the high-voltage transmission network in central Cuba, which caused the entire electric system to collapse.
How are recovery efforts being prioritized in Cuba?
Recovery efforts are focusing on crucial areas like hospitals and water pumping stations, starting from Jaruco and moving towards major thermoelectric plants.
What technologies are lacking in Cuba's power restoration efforts?
Key technologies such as distributed generation, MOA engines, Mariel barges, and fuel supplies like diesel and fuel oil are currently unavailable for the restoration process.
What is the current status of Havana's power restoration?
As of the latest update, Havana has achieved 44.2% recovery with 126 out of 286 distribution circuits operational, and 45 hospitals have regained electricity.