Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz has pointed fingers at the United States embargo as the root cause of two recent nationwide power outages in just one week. In a provocative statement, he questioned whether Cuba is experiencing what he termed as "genocide."
"Today, voices around the world have risen in support of Cuba. Just when the global community condemns the blockade and energy siege against our nation, we've faced two disconnections from our National Electric System (SEN). Are we not confronting a genocide?" Marrero expressed on the social media platform X.
In another post, he highlighted the challenges faced: "This week has been particularly harsh due to the energy blockade: two SEN outages, scarce fuel for power plants, and several units offline. The effort from our electrical workers is monumental. Amidst these difficulties, we commend their work."
His remarks came shortly after the SEN suffered its fourth collapse of the year at 4:30 PM this past Friday, as confirmed by the Electric Union. The technical issue was a failure in the 220 kV line between Santa Clara and Sancti Spíritus, which led to a complete system breakdown within just 35 minutes.
Linking Blackout to International Politics
The Cuban government connected the blackout to the extraordinary session of the UN General Assembly on July 7, where 136 countries voted to discuss the U.S. embargo against Cuba. Marrero used the hashtag #CubaNoEsUnaAmenaza, the central slogan of a diplomatic campaign recently promoted by the Cuban administration alongside President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, also addressed the situation on X, acknowledging the severity of the current crisis.
Underlying Structural Issues
The official narrative sidesteps the underlying structural issues plaguing the nation's energy system. Many Cuban power plants are between 40 to 60 years old and have not undergone comprehensive maintenance. Specifically, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant has been offline 17 times this year, lacking major repairs since 2010.
As of Friday, the system was operating with a mere 935 MW available against a demand of 3,100 MW, projecting a shortage exceeding 2,100 MW. Additionally, 106 distributed generation plants were inactive due to fuel shortages, accounting for an additional 890 MW out of service.
Just two days prior, on July 8, the nation recorded its largest energy deficit ever at 2,341 MW, affecting 73% of the population simultaneously. In Matanzas, some areas have endured outages lasting up to 87 consecutive hours, while in Havana, the average is 15 hours of daily power loss.
Societal Impact and Historical Parallels
The blackout happened on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the historic July 11, 2021 protests, the largest social upheaval Cuba has seen since 1959, sparked by similar blackouts and ongoing shortages. This event triggered a wave of ironic commentary on social media.
Cubans responded to the latest SEN failure with comments like, "Remember that tomorrow is July 11. The power went out on the 10th and won't return until the 12th."
The Executive Order signed by President Donald Trump on January 29 imposed secondary sanctions on countries exporting fuel to Cuba, cutting off supplies from Venezuela and Mexico, exacerbating an already longstanding crisis.
FAQs about Cuba's Energy Crisis
What is causing the latest power outages in Cuba?
The recent power outages are attributed to technical failures in the National Electric System, exacerbated by aging infrastructure and lack of maintenance, as well as fuel shortages due to the U.S. embargo.
How has the U.S. embargo affected Cuba's energy sector?
The U.S. embargo has led to restricted access to fuel and other resources, worsening the energy shortages in Cuba. The sanctions have cut off crucial supplies from countries like Venezuela and Mexico.
What role do structural issues play in Cuba's energy crisis?
Many of Cuba's power plants are outdated and have not received necessary maintenance, leading to frequent breakdowns and inefficiencies, contributing significantly to the ongoing energy crisis.