Amidst one of the most severe energy crises in recent months, Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed gratitude on Monday to the Cuban people for their "understanding" following the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN), which left several provinces in darkness for more than 48 hours. Instead of offering concrete solutions, the leader warned that the country continues to battle a significant energy shortage, stating that power outages will persist.
"Thank you, Cuba, for your patience during the hours of uncertainty and discomfort caused by the disconnection of the SEN. And thanks to the workers and managers of the Electric Union who faced the challenge without rest. We remain in deficit, but we are now reconnected," he shared on his X (Twitter) account.
Public Response to Díaz-Canel’s Remarks
Following his statements, Cubans were quick to react. One user commented, "Thank you, Cuba... what a clown you are. That's why you have to surround yourself with 40 bodyguards and unleash the dogs when the power goes out because they love and adore you so much."
Another individual expressed, "You have to be shameless to talk so much nonsense from your air-conditioned comfort, while the people watch what little food they have spoil."
Others have urged the government to step down. "Resign, you party of incompetents! You're a puppet. Those of you in the millionaire elite don't care about the people. It was 48 hours without power. Thanks, not a bit! Even in 200 years, you won't repay what you've done to the people," another user wrote.
Scheduled Power Outages Continue
The Electric Union confirmed that on Sunday, March 16, there was a continuous 24-hour disruption, peaking at 1,601 MW at 7:30 p.m. While the SEN has been restored, the situation remains precarious.
The crisis has worsened due to the shutdown of multiple generation units. Currently, the unit 1 of CTE Habana, unit 6 of CTE Renté, and unit 2 of CTE Felton are out of service. Additionally, several units are under maintenance, including CTE Mariel, Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Renté. Further compounding the issue are thermal generation limitations of 481 MW and a fuel shortage that has sidelined 40 distributed generation plants, affecting an additional 158 MW.
On Monday evening, the peak demand is expected to reach 3,280 MW, with only 1,995 MW available, resulting in a deficit of 1,285 MW and an impact of at least 1,355 MW. In Havana, power cuts will rotate across various blocks throughout the day. Block #1 will experience outages from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; block #2 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; block #4 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and block #3 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Impact of Energy Collapse on Cuban Life
The energy collapse affects all aspects of life in Cuba. Without electricity, water services are disrupted, food preservation becomes impossible, and many families struggle to cook due to the gas shortage. In the past six months, there have been at least four significant blackouts, leaving the island without power for over 50 hours in various regions.
Authorities claim the situation is due to technical problems and fuel shortages, yet they offer no clear plan for resolution. Meanwhile, the population faces the uncertainty of an increasingly unstable electrical system, with no real alternatives to mitigate the effects of the frequent outages.
Understanding Cuba's Power Crisis
What are the main causes of Cuba's ongoing power outages?
The power outages in Cuba are primarily due to technical problems with the aging infrastructure and a significant fuel shortage affecting power generation capabilities.
How are the power outages affecting daily life in Cuba?
Daily life is severely impacted as water supply services are interrupted, food refrigeration is impossible, and many families struggle to prepare meals due to gas shortages.
How has the Cuban government responded to the energy crisis?
The government has thanked citizens for their patience but has not provided a clear solution to the ongoing energy crisis, leaving the population to face continued uncertainty.