The leader Miguel Díaz-Canel assured this Saturday that he is working "with absolute priority on the recovery of the National Electric System," but his statements triggered a wave of criticism and mockery from Cubans tired of unfulfilled promises and endless blackouts.
The ruler posted on Facebook a video of his tour on Friday of the "Latino" Transformer Factory in Boyeros and the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the Cotorro substation, two facilities presented by the Presidency as key pieces to recover the power system, amid a crisis that maintains deficits exceeding 1,700 MW.
However, the reaction of many Cubans was far from the official optimism. "Yes, with priority, but without results," wrote Zenia Rodríguez Soto.
Other comments expressed an even harsher tone. "I can't wait for them to come get you already, you're so boring," remarked Julio Fernández, while Javy Rex described him as "shameless."
Most responses echoed concerns about the lack of concrete solutions after decades of energy decline. "Actions, not words," demanded Oella Haber Rivas, who quipped that solutions would arrive "by 2050."
Luis Cuba also mocked the official speech: “They only need 67 more years, trust us.”
Several users directed their criticisms towards the regime's economic priorities. Marisol Céspedes asked whether it wouldn't be better to "sell one of those empty hotels and buy a new thermoelectric plant," while Marcia Ortiz recalled that the Government continued building hotels "during the crisis" despite the country's electrical and economic collapse.
There were also comments that directly blamed the political and economic model. "Cuba has plenty of talent. What is needed is to change the political and economic system," wrote Osvaldo Carrillo.
Others completely dismissed the impact of the ruler's visits. "It's all just a facade," stated Maritza Ramos Moreno.
"There is no shortage of talent in Cuba," summarized the user Osvaldo Carrillo in the comments. "We just need to change the political and economic system," he added.
The contrast between the official discourse and the energy reality further fueled citizen discontent. The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant went offline on May 5 due to its eighth breakdown of the year, a failure in the boiler that disconnected 140 MW and raised the energy deficit to nearly 1,900 MW.
Although this Saturday the plant synchronized again with the National Electric System, contributing 200 MW, the forecasted deficit for peak hours remained at 1,710 MW, with an availability of only 1,590 MW against a demand of 3,300 MW.
In parallel, Díaz-Canel himself admitted on May 2 that the Russian oil received at the end of March was about to run out, after four consecutive months without new fuel supplies from abroad, a situation that further exacerbates the fragility of the Cuban electrical system.
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant was taken offline on May 5 due to its eighth breakdown of the year, a failure in the boiler that disconnected 140 MW and caused the deficit to approach 1,900 MW.
This Saturday, the Guiteras synchronized again with the system at 08:38, contributing 200 MW, but the projected deficit for the nighttime peak remained at 1,710 MW, with an availability of only 1,590 MW against a demand of 3,300 MW.
This is compounded by the fuel crisis: Díaz-Canel himself admitted on May 2 before international solidarity delegates that the Russian oil received at the end of March was running out "in these days" with no date for new supplies, following four consecutive months without receiving fuel from abroad.
This pattern of presidential visits to energy facilities during a crisis repeats itself without structural solutions. Díaz-Canel had already visited Guiteras in September 2025 and thermal plants in Cienfuegos in August of that same year with identical results.
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