In the face of impending Hurricane Oscar and ongoing disconnection from the National Electricity System, the government of Santiago de Cuba has rolled out measures such as charcoal sales and budget-friendly meals to aid local residents. Yaneydis Hechavarría, President of the Municipal Assembly of People's Power in Santiago de Cuba, shared these initiatives on Facebook, highlighting the province's dire circumstances amid the current crisis.
Hechavarría explained that the availability of resources would dictate the organization of charcoal sales and low-cost meals, underscoring that these efforts might fall short of meeting public demand. The delayed distribution of rice to complete September's allocation for all households was also noted, as November nears its end.
In addition, the provision of liquefied gas, crucial during the ongoing power generation crisis, hinges on ensuring lighting at sales points—an effort that local residents have had to coordinate themselves to secure this essential service. The bread production process is another area where the government applies temporary solutions, utilizing bakeries with generators to meet daily needs.
System Failures and Public Sentiment
Hechavarría emphasized the need for public discipline, omitting the government's accountability for failing to deliver services efficiently. Following the collapse of the National Electricity System last Friday, the eastern region faced the most severe consequences.
This past Sunday, the situation took an unexpected turn just hours after authorities eagerly announced the operation of Generation Block No. 3 at the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Plant, also known as Rente, in Santiago de Cuba. As the plant was in the process of increasing its load for synchronization, a malfunction led to a system collapse. Consequently, a microsystem that provided electricity to Santiago de Cuba and Guantánamo fell, leaving them without power.
Nationwide Energy Disruption
Sunday proved to be a challenging day for Cuba. The regime, after boasting about the gradual restoration of the electric system, experienced another disconnection in the afternoon. This followed a "trip" at the 10 de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant in Nuevitas, Camagüey. According to a brief statement from the Cuban Electrical Union, the "trip" led to a disconnection from Ciego de Ávila to Holguín, and eventually the rest of the country went dark, as power barges connecting the western part of the island also went offline.