As millions of Cubans continue to organize their days amid blackouts, heat, and shortages, the government once again confirms that the State cannot afford the fuel needed to keep the country running.
In the X Plenary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, and the Secretary of Organization, Roberto Morales Ojeda, acknowledged that more than half of the recent outages, up to 1,000 megawatts of nearly 1,900 reported in a day, are simply due to a lack of oil.
“If today we had fuel and lubricant, the situation would be completely different. Completely different,” Morales Ojeda repeated, sounding more like resignation than a proposal.
“When we have experienced an impact of up to 1,800 MW, and almost a day of 1,900, there were about 1,000 that were due to fuel,” said the party official.
According to De la O Levy, the country has synchronized 22 solar parks so far in 2025, reaching 481 MW, and it is expected to close the year with 1,115 MW. "In July, the synchronization of five new parks continues, bringing the total to 27 in operation with a power of 590 MW," he noted. However, even the sun does not suffice when the bulk of electricity generation still relies on outdated, broken thermal plants with no spare parts.
The minister admitted that the thermal power plants are at their limit after decades of exploitation and lack of investment. Although the available capacity has been increased from 850 MW to 1,100 MW in July, the demand remains above the country's actual capacity.
However, far from providing sustainable solutions, the government has chosen a package of restrictions that include:
- Closure of state offices from Friday to Monday.
- Reorganization of services to reduce consumption.
- Electricity cuts to private businesses that exceed the plans.
These actions directly impact the daily lives of millions of Cubans, who face power outages of up to 10 hours a day, interruptions in basic services, and an increasingly challenging environment for maintaining small businesses or independent activities.
In the words of the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel, the National Electroenergetic System is "collapsed." "Here, when we have this electroenergetic situation, almost everything comes to a halt: there is no water supply, there is no material production, services cannot be offered, because there are hardly any hours of electricity," the leader acknowledged, according to Martí Noticias.
Díaz-Canel detailed that some provinces have had only three or four hours of electricity a day, while others have gone entire days without power. In the neighborhoods, the reality surpasses any official statements: closed businesses, spoiled food, families without water or ventilation, and a growing sense of hopelessness.
“In recent weeks, there are provinces that have been without power almost the entire day. So, everything is paralyzed there,” he stated.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba
Why is Cuba's electrical system still collapsing despite the solar parks?
The Cuban electrical system continues to be in collapse due to its high dependence on obsolete thermoelectric plants and a lack of fuel. Although solar parks have been incorporated, the generated energy is not sufficient to meet demand, especially at night, as they lack storage batteries. The country's electrical infrastructure is deteriorating, and there have not been significant investments in maintenance or new technologies.
What are the measures taken by the Cuban government to address the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has chosen a package of restrictions and the installation of solar parks as measures to address the energy crisis. These include the shutdown of state offices, reorganization of services to reduce consumption, and power cuts to private businesses that exceed their quotas. Additionally, new solar parks are being synchronized, although without storage batteries, which limits their effectiveness.
How does the electricity crisis affect the daily lives of Cubans?
The electricity crisis causes blackouts of up to 10 hours daily, severely impacting the quality of life for Cubans. Interruptions in the power supply affect basic services such as water and food refrigeration, in addition to hindering production and the operation of small businesses. This situation has created an atmosphere of hopelessness and social unrest among the population.
What has the Cuban government said about the duration of the blackouts?
The Cuban government has admitted that blackouts will continue due to structural problems within the electrical system. Despite promises of improvements, the regime has acknowledged that achieving "zero blackouts" will not be possible and that disruptions will persist until the deficiencies in energy generation and distribution are resolved.
What is the long-term outlook for the Cuban energy system?
The Cuban government expects to restore its energy capacity within three years, although this will not solve the problem in the short term. A plan has been proposed to recover some of the lost capacity through the rehabilitation of thermal power plants and the promotion of renewable sources. However, the success of these initiatives depends on the availability of resources and financing, which keeps the situation uncertain.
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