Related videos:
The Consulate General of Spain in Havana announced that it will reduce its service hours as part of "energy-saving" measures, a decision that once again highlights the real impact of the electrical crisis in Cuba, even in foreign institutions where thousands of Cubans are processing key documents for their future.
According to the diplomatic mission's report via its official account on X, starting Monday, February 16, the Consulate will close from Monday to Thursday at 3:00 p.m., one hour earlier than usual.
The institution explained that the closing time will be at 3:00 p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m., so all individuals with appointments scheduled for the end of the day should arrive before 2:45 p.m. to ensure they can be attended to.
The announcement arrives at a particularly sensitive time for Cubans who depend on consular procedures related to Spanish nationality, visas, legalizations, and other processes that often entail long waits and travel from various provinces of the country.
Shortly after the first announcement, the Consulate clarified that it will maintain all scheduled appointments, trying to alleviate concerns among applicants who fear losing slots they obtained after months of waiting.
The reduction of hours at the Spanish Consulate adds to similar measures announced in recent days by other diplomatic missions in Havana. Just on Thursday, the United States Embassy announced that it will limit its in-person services to three days a week in order to conserve fuel and optimize energy consumption, with Mondays and Fridays reserved only for emergencies.
Amid prolonged blackouts, a fuel deficit, and a collapsed electrical infrastructure, the Cuban energy crisis continues to have consequences that go far beyond households: it now also directly affects citizens' access to procedures that, for many, represent the only way to reunite with family or to leave the country legally.
Filed under: