The energy crisis choking Cuba deepens with each passing day. This Monday, June 24, the Electric Union (UNE) reported that the country experienced power outages for 24 hours the previous day and into the early morning today.
The night before, according to the state company, the maximum reported impact was 1,760 MW at 10:00 p.m., a figure lower than the forecasted one, but it is dangerously close to the historical peaks recorded in recent months.
Although the authorities insist that the situation will improve as summer approaches, the numbers, the arrival of the hottest time of the year, and the public outcry tell a different story.
At 7:00 a.m. this Tuesday, the availability of the National Electric System (SEN) was 1,760 MW, with a demand of 3,050 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,305 MW.
For the peak nighttime period, a shortfall of 1,790 MW is expected, with a projected maximum demand of 3,550 MW and insufficient backup, despite the anticipated addition of only 70 MW from unit 1 of the CTE Santa Cruz.
Breakdowns and maintenance issues continue: six thermal units are out of service, and 96 distributed generation plants remain shut down due to a lack of fuel. An additional 97 MW are affected by a shortage of oil in the engines, raising the total damage in that segment to 885 MW.
Meanwhile, the 16 photovoltaic solar parks delivered 1,756 MWh, a symbolic figure in light of the magnitude of the deficit.
"Every day we are worse off."
In social media, public discontent leaves no room for ambiguity. “Cubans are zombies walking by inertia,” wrote a user in the comments on Facebook regarding the UNE news report, after denouncing power outages lasting over 18 hours.
A user from Las Tunas reported that in that province they have been experiencing "entire nights without electricity," and an internet user summarized the collective sentiment: "They are killing us slowly."
Others mocked the supposed improvement plan announced by the government: “We are making progress, each day closer to a 2,000 MW deficit,” said a Cuban woman. “How much longer do we have to endure?” asked another, describing the loss of food and the suffering due to the heat and mosquitoes.
From Cienfuegos, a user reported more than 32 hours without electricity. “Where are those who promised it would only be 18 hours?” he asked indignantly. In Santa Cruz del Sur, another person complained that “neither the oil nor the fuel are showing up, but the rhetoric remains the same.”
Collective wear and tear
The UNE repeats identical parts every day, which has led users to label the reports as “copy and paste”. The lack of transparency, unfulfilled promises, and the silence of public officials are increasing public anger.
"The only thing that improves is the wear and tear of the people," commented one user. "This has no brakes," added another, while a third asked if this will be "the life that we have left in this country."
Electricity outages in Havana: Official schedule for this Monday
The Electric Company of Havana published the official schedule of outages due to generation deficits for this Monday, June 24, confirming the continuation of prolonged blackouts in the capital amid the energy crisis the country is experiencing.
According to the schedule shared on the state entity's Facebook account, the affected blocks will be as follows:
- Block B3: from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Block B4: from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Block B5: from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Block B1: from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Block B2: from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.
In addition, it was warned that if the conditions of the National Electric System (SEN) require it, the outages may be extended after midnight, repeating the same sequence of blocks, but starting with those circuits that were not affected during regular hours. In this case, the additional impact is estimated to last up to an hour per block.
The official notice also reminds users who do not see their issues reflected in this schedule that they may be experiencing a technical failure, and suggests reaching out to the institutional support channels, although it implicitly acknowledges the difficulty in addressing all cases.
This plan does not take into account the actual impacts of the national generation deficit, which have already exceeded 1,700 MW per day and have left numerous municipalities in Havana experiencing interruptions of more than 24 consecutive hours, as many users have reported on social media.
The uncertainty, the saturation of the system, and the inability to respond in a timely manner create a scenario in which the rotation of blocks loses its significance, especially as more and more areas experience power outages for longer than officially stated.
No visible exit
With prolonged blackouts lasting more than a day in many areas of the country, and the official promise of improvements “for the summer” becoming a common refrain, Cuba is nearing a total electrical collapse. Citizens no longer believe in technical reports, nor in the promises of the authorities, nor in the figures. Only in their fatigue.
"Each day is worse than the one before. There is no solution, no will, no respect," concluded a user. In this climate of despair, the light in Cuba is not only absent in homes: it has also dimmed in the faith of its people.
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