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The journalist Javier Díaz reported on social media how a power outage interrupted a video call with his grandmother in Cuba, a common scene for thousands of Cuban families separated by forced emigration and the energy crisis affecting the island.
"Talking with my grandmother in Cuba... boom, the power went out," Díaz wrote on his Facebook profile, accompanied by a screenshot showing how the screen went completely black, interrupting the only means of communication he has maintained with his grandmother for nearly nine years. "What a miserable country, filled with calamities and suffering. I don’t know how much longer Cuba has to pay for its ‘eternal curse’," he lamented.
The journalist explained that he has not seen his grandmother in person for almost a decade, and that video calls are his only connection with her, as is the case for so many other Cuban families separated by the crisis.
In response to a user who criticized him for not visiting his grandmother in so many years and suggested that he could have taken her out of the country if he really wanted to see her, Díaz replied bluntly: “She doesn’t want to travel, don’t speak without knowing.”
Blackouts: A daily ordeal
Díaz's testimony reflects a widely documented reality. According to the VIII Report of the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights (OCDH), 92% of Cubans disapprove of the government's management, and the constant blackouts are among the main causes of social discontent.
The study indicates that 89% of the population lives in extreme poverty and that the scarcity of food, medicine, and basic services has been surpassed in severity by power outages, which have turned daily life into a constant test of endurance.
A crisis without a short-term solution
The researcher from the Energy Institute of the University of Texas, Jorge Piñón, believes that the energy crisis in Cuba has no immediate solution. According to his calculations, the country would require between three to five years and an investment of up to 10 billion dollars to begin to emerge from the structural collapse of its electrical system.
Piñón described the solar parks promoted by the regime as a "fairy tale," as they lack batteries for storage. He also recalled that the country's thermoelectric plants are over four decades old and operate using highly harmful crude oil.
Citizen fatigue and unfulfilled promises
The Cuban population has openly expressed their frustration with the lack of solutions; on social media, they report that blackouts have become a "psychological torture", with outages lasting up to 40 hours and families forced to cook with charcoal due to the lack of electricity and liquefied gas.
For some time now, citizens have been demanding not just explanations, but accountability. Even voices aligned with the government have begun to openly question the broken promises. Journalist Ana Teresa Badía, for instance, inquired on social media why the promise to reduce blackouts during the summer was not fulfilled, sparking a national debate about the government's lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, Cubans remain in the dark, both physically and symbolically. As an outraged user expressed on social media: “We live in a Cuba of shadows, where hope has become a privilege.”
The entire country, in the dark once again
This Wednesday, the collapse of the electric system left the entire country completely in the dark once again. At 9:14 AM, the Electric Union reported the total failure of the National Electroenergetic System, following the unexpected shutdown of the CTE Antonio Guiteras, the same plant that the government had previously announced would go offline for maintenance. The blackout was widespread and for an indefinite period, further exacerbating a crisis that shows no signs of easing. Frequently asked questions about the energy and social crisis in Cuba.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy and Social Crisis in Cuba
How do power outages affect Cuban families?
Blackouts in Cuba severely impact the daily lives of Cuban families, disrupting communication, food preservation, and access to water. Additionally, they force people to cook using alternative methods and to sleep under precarious conditions, even on the street, due to the extreme heat.
What solutions has the Cuban government proposed for the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has promoted the construction of solar parks as a solution, but according to experts like Jorge Piñón, these are insufficient due to the lack of storage batteries. Furthermore, the Cuban electrical system requires significant investment for its structural recovery.
What is the perception of Cubans regarding the government in light of this crisis?
According to the VIII Report from the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights, 92% of Cubans disapprove of the government's management, primarily due to the energy crisis, the shortage of food and basic services, and the lack of effective solutions.
What impact does the energy crisis have on other services in Cuba?
The energy crisis directly affects the water supply, as pumping relies on electricity. This results in many areas being left without water for extended periods, further worsening living conditions on the island.
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