A video shared on Facebook by Dariel Vicedo this Wednesday highlights the stark energy inequality in Cuba. Although the areas surrounding the local headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Provincial Government of Matanzas have been without power for five days, the air conditioning units in these buildings remain operational and running.
Vicedo captured the footage from the street, where the sound of the air conditioners in full operation could be heard from a distance, and aptly titled it, "Some are more equal than others."
"These circuits have been without electricity since Saturday, for five days now," Vicedo states in the video, "while both of these setups are on and functioning."
"Look at the air conditioners at the provincial party headquarters in Matanzas. They're on all day," Vicedo remarks at the beginning of the video, before moving towards the Provincial Government building.
"These belong to the provincial government, constantly running," he adds.
The power outage affecting these circuits began on Saturday, July 5, meaning some Matanzas residents had endured up to 87 consecutive hours without electricity by the time the issue was publicized. This is according to the provincial electrical crisis dossier.
Widespread Power Failures in Cuba
The immediate backdrop is Cuba's third nationwide blackout in 2026, which occurred at 12:17 PM on Sunday, July 6. An unexpected shutdown of Unit No. 6 at the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant triggered a cascading collapse that left about 9.6 million people across the island in the dark.
On that day, the national grid had only 1,000 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW, resulting in a projected shortfall of between 2,200 and 2,230 MW. It marked the eighth total blackout in the country within 24 months.
Officially, Matanzas is the most severely affected province in the national system throughout 2026. The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, located there and the nation's main power generator, has experienced 17 outages this year alone and hasn't undergone major maintenance since 2010.
Additionally, eight substations are out of service—four due to dielectric oil theft—and 63 transformers are damaged.
Public Outrage and Government Acknowledgment
In June, some residents in Matanzas experienced as much as 96 consecutive hours without electricity, setting a record that the province had already surpassed several times before the total blackout on Sunday.
The disparity highlighted by Vicedo is neither new nor accidental. In September 2025, Miguel Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged the "disproportions" in the distribution of blackouts, admitting that some provincial capitals enjoy "relatively comfortable" cycles while entire municipalities endure cuts lasting up to 25 hours a day.
Public frustration has spilled over into social media and the streets. This Wednesday, there were reports of pot-banging protests in La Hata and Guanabacoa, and in June, demonstrations occurred outside the PCC headquarters in Santiago de Cuba due to blackouts lasting up to 22 hours daily.
Vicedo's video garnered over 14,700 views in just a few hours, with 439 reactions and 67 comments, encapsulating in 59 seconds the core contradiction of the system: political power institutions maintain their privileges while the surrounding population remains in darkness.
Key Questions About Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing frequent power outages in Cuba?
Cuba's power outages are primarily due to an aging infrastructure, lack of maintenance, and insufficient energy production capabilities compared to demand.
How has the public reacted to energy inequalities in Cuba?
Public reactions have included social media outcries and street protests, as citizens express frustration over the preferential treatment of government facilities versus residential areas.
Why is Matanzas one of the most affected provinces?
Matanzas is significantly affected due to the frequent breakdowns of its main thermoelectric plant, Antonio Guiteras, and the lack of comprehensive maintenance since 2010.