Residents on 72nd Street in the town of Güines, located in Mayabeque Province, have been left without electricity for more than a week following a transformer explosion that occurred midday in front of the NucaY rum factory, according to a report sent to CiberCuba.
Electric company workers arrived at the scene several hours late, attributing the delay to a lack of fuel for their vehicle. Upon arrival, they made three attempts to repair the equipment, but the transformer failed each time, ultimately being declared beyond repair by the technicians.
“They also tell us that there are no transformers available in the country right now. We have to be patient,” one of the affected residents explained.
This response has angered locals, who have been unable to pump water with their motors and have resorted to using buckets and containers to fetch water from the NucaY rum factory’s cistern. Meanwhile, their food supplies have spoiled completely.
“How can they ask us to be patient when we've been without power for over a week, unable to get water, nearly out of food, families are exhausted, and children can't attend school?” the complainant asked.
The residents are particularly frustrated by the existence of an unofficial way to solve the issue. According to the report, an intermediary informed them that a transformer could be procured for 100,000 Cuban pesos. This contradiction is evident to those affected.
“How is it that the State tells us there are no transformers available, yet if we pay 100,000 pesos, a transformer suddenly appears? I don’t understand. Is there one or not?” questioned a resident.
The electric company has not provided any explanations or timelines for a resolution. “They don’t give us a clear explanation, they say nothing, it’s complete silence, they don’t face us,” another resident complained.
The situation in Güines is not unique. In Granma Province, at least 14 transformers were reported broken by June 10, and last Thursday, residents of the Micro 2 district in Santiago de Cuba resorted to banging pots and pans after being without electricity for more than ten days due to a broken transformer.
Understanding the Power Crisis in Cuba
Why is there no electricity in Güines?
The electricity outage in Güines is due to a transformer explosion in front of a local rum factory, which has left residents without power for over a week.
What are the residents of Güines doing to cope without electricity?
Residents have been fetching water with buckets from the nearby NucaY rum factory's cistern and dealing with spoiled food due to the lack of refrigeration.
Is there a resolution in sight for the power outage?
There has been no clear explanation or timeline from the electric company regarding when the issue will be resolved.