Yoandi Montiel Hernández, the influencer and activist known as El Gato de Cuba, has taken to social media to voice his frustration over the worsening power outages in Havana. "There are three certainties in life. In prison, you know when you enter but not when you leave, because you can get tangled up. In life, you know when you're born, but not when you die, because that's unpredictable. And here, at the Guiteras power plant in western Cuba, you know when the power goes out but not when it will come back on. This is unacceptable!" he expressed online.
Although Havana had initially been less affected by the ongoing energy crisis, the Cuban government has now started scheduling power cuts every three hours. El Gato de Cuba, clearly outraged, emphasized that these blackouts are becoming more frequent and are impacting an increasing number of vulnerable individuals. He questioned how long people would have to endure this situation.
Additionally, he highlighted that children are enduring inhumane conditions due to the heat and mosquito infestations, which makes it nearly impossible for them to attend school or maintain a normal routine the following day.
Work and School Activities Halted Amid Energy Crisis
The Cuban government announced on Thursday the suspension of work and school activities for the upcoming weekend due to the severe energy crisis plaguing the country. "It has been decided to suspend, on February 14 and 15, all non-essential work and educational activities under current conditions," reported the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS).
The official statement clarifies that essential services for the population will continue, and affected workers will receive salary compensation as per the Labor Code. Some events may also face cancellation. Notably, it remains unclear how this decision will affect the 33rd edition of the Havana International Book Fair, scheduled to begin this Friday with 400 participants from 40 countries.
A Crumbling Energy System
Cuba's energy crisis is worsening. The Electric Union (UNE) reported a maximum deficit of 56% of national demand, equivalent to 1,810 MW during peak consumption hours. In recent hours, Lázaro Guerra, the General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), warned that the situation would be particularly challenging, although some improvement in service disruptions is anticipated.
Currently, ten thermoelectric units are non-operational, with six due to malfunctions and four undergoing maintenance. This means half of the 20 total thermoelectric production units, spread across seven plants, are out of service. Moreover, 59 distributed generation plants and two floating power stations are offline due to a lack of both fuel oil and diesel.
Despite the Cuban government's claims of implementing temporary solutions to alleviate the energy crisis, they have yet to resolve the country's underlying structural issues. For five years, power outages have plagued Cubans daily, although the impact is now being felt more acutely in Havana.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What are the main causes of the power outages in Cuba?
The primary causes of power outages in Cuba are the aging and failing infrastructure of the energy system, coupled with a lack of sufficient fuel, both fuel oil and diesel, to operate power plants.
How is the Cuban government responding to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government claims to be implementing temporary measures to alleviate the energy crisis, although these efforts have not resolved the fundamental structural problems of the energy system.
What impact do power outages have on daily life in Cuba?
Power outages severely disrupt daily life in Cuba, affecting everything from work and education to basic living conditions, as people deal with extreme heat and mosquito infestations without power.