In the midst of one of the worst electrical crises the country is facing, the Director of Commercial Services of the Electric Company in the Isle of Youth, Yosvany Hernández, urged the public this Friday to continue conserving energy, despite the prolonged blackouts affecting a large part of the national territory.
"We continue to urge the public to keep saving and to help reduce the peak demand," Hernández emphasized during a brief address published on the local telecenter's YouTube channel Islavisión.
According to the official, the maximum electricity demand reached 24.42 megawatts (MW) on Thursday, and thanks to the addition of unit Fe two and the operation of unit MAN five—though only with 2 MW available—demand was met without affecting the circuits, he explained
However, the official indicated that maintenance work is ongoing on the Fe one and MAN five units.
The citizens' reaction was swift. On social media, dozens of Cubans described the request as "shameful" and "offensive," considering that in many areas of the country there are power outages lasting up to 24 hours, and when electricity does arrive, it lasts only a few hours. "What savings?" wrote one user, "if there is never any power."
Other comments pointed out the lack of consistency between what is demanded of the people and what is allowed in tourist areas or recreational spaces. “How many homes without electricity while you see the Malecón in Havana full of lights and concerts,” criticized one of the commentators, reflecting a widespread perception of the government's double standards regarding the use of resources.
Critics also pointed to the inefficiency of the Cuban energy system and the underutilization of solar energy facilities. Citizens like Orestes Rodríguez recalled that there are hundreds of thousands of solar panels distributed throughout the country that are not being used properly, which could alleviate the crisis if managed seriously.
Beyond the discomfort, many expressed a profound exhaustion. “What they ask of us is not saving, but resignation,” wrote Edith Tamayo, referring to the precariousness of living without electricity: without rest, without production, without food in decent condition.
For years, Cubans repeated almost like a mantra that "the Isle of Youth does not experience power outages." And it was not just a popular belief, last March, official media acknowledged that this territory had its own electricity generation, with sufficient capacity to avoid blackouts, even during widespread outages affecting the entire larger island.
But reality dismantled the myth, and the island territory began to suffer from scheduled blackouts, just as they spread throughout the day and early morning in the rest of the country.
Many have pointed out that the start of scheduled power cuts began after the visit from the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, who traveled to the special municipality accompanied by Commander Ramiro Valdés -in charge of the "recovery" strategy for the National Electrical System- to attend the central event marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the dictator Fidel Castro from what is known as Presidio Modelo.
The crisis has unleashed an unprecedented movement of citizen discontent that goes beyond mere complaints about blackouts. Social media users recently spread messages calling for the independence of this Cuban territory, demanding a republic of their own, free from the control of the central government in Havana.
Amid the growing discontent, the Electric Company of Isla de la Juventud called on the population to maintain confidence in its workers.
As a curious note, in June, the director of the dispatch unit of the Electric Union in Isla de la Juventud, Ignacio Moya, apologized for using the word "blackout" on TV, highlighting the distortions of language among Cuban leadership and officials to avoid naming reality as it is.
“Blackouts continue, meaning the impact on customers, excuse me…” said Moya. While providing the daily report on the electrical situation in the area, the official accidentally uttered the forbidden word, the one that names the reality endured by the Cuban people daily: blackouts.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Electrical Crisis in the Isle of Youth and Cuba
Why is the Cuban government asking the population to save energy?
The Cuban government is urging the population to conserve energy to reduce peak demand, especially amid an electrical crisis that has caused prolonged blackouts across the country, including on the Isle of Youth. Although some generating units are operational, the energy deficit is significant due to malfunctions and a lack of fuel.
What is the current situation of the electrical system in the Isle of Youth?
The Isle of Youth is facing a serious electrical crisis with a generation of only 18 megawatts (MW), far below its installed capacity. This has resulted in prolonged power outages, especially during the nights, and has triggered widespread discontent among its residents.
What reactions has the call for energy savings provoked among Cubans?
The government’s request to conserve energy has been met with outrage by many Cubans, who consider the demand “shameful” and “offensive”, given that they are already enduring prolonged blackouts and power outages lasting up to 24 hours. The population is denouncing the lack of coherence and the inefficiency of the energy system.
What energy alternatives are being considered in Cuba to address the electricity crisis?
The Cuban government has invested in solar energy as an alternative however, the existing solar parks have not resolved the crisis due to their insufficient capacity to meet the country's high energy demand. The lack of fuel and the deterioration of thermal plants remain the main obstacles.
Is there an independence movement in the Isle of Youth due to the energy crisis?
Yes, the electricity crisis has triggered an unprecedented movement of citizen discontent in the Isle of Youth. Some residents have expressed desires for independence as a way to escape government control and seek their own solutions to the energy collapse they are facing.
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