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The matancera journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández published a scathing account on Facebook this Friday of the blackouts experienced in her electrical circuit over the week: 67 consecutive hours without electricity between Saturday and Tuesday, another 46 hours between Tuesday and Thursday, and an additional 26 hours accumulated at the time of writing.
The trigger was the return of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant to the National Electric System, announced by the Electric Union (UNE) last Friday, after its 14th shutdown of the year due to leaks in the boiler, which occurred on June 6.
"Having the Guiteras, what does it serve Matanzas for? To take away our water?" asked Torres Hernández, questioning the real benefit that housing the largest power plant in the country represents for the province.
The journalist was straightforward: "What I see is that thanks to this, we have the longest and most oppressive blackouts in all of Cuba." She added another grievance: "Oh, and since there are leaks in the boiler, it drains the water from a good part of the town."
The return of the Guiteras did not alleviate the situation. This Saturday, the UNE reported a capacity of only 1,200 MW, with a demand of 2,580 MW and 1,385 MW affected in the early morning, along with a projected deficit of 1,810 MW for peak hours. Additionally, 106 distributed generation plants remained out of service due to lack of fuel, resulting in an absence of 890 MW.
The report triggered an avalanche of testimonies from residents across the province. A neighbor from Colón reported 54 hours without electricity; another from Cárdenas had accumulated 37 hours; in Carlos Rojas, the outages exceeded 48 hours with only an hour and a half of electricity upon restoration. One resident noted that in six days, her circuit had only five hours of supply.
Several commentators reached the same conclusion: the energy generated by Guiteras does not remain in Matanzas. "Guiteras is located in Matanzas, but it's not for the people of Matanzas," wrote a neighbor from the same Torres circuit. Another internet user was more explicit: "Everyone knows where the energy generated by Guiteras ends up. The government doesn't even try to hide it anymore. Yesterday, the moment it started up, the deficit in that area dropped to almost 0." Other testimonies and reflections from internet users noted that the situation in the entire country is in equally dire conditions, and the problem is not local but systemic.
Matanzas is the second province with the highest electrical demand in Cuba, averaging 238 MW, and has been officially recognized as the most affected by power outages. The deputy technical director of the provincial electric company acknowledged this before the television.
The electrical crisis is accompanied by an equally serious water crisis, as more than 80% of the water supply system in Matanzas depends on electricity. Torres has reported how this vital liquid is also being wasted in the province, due to leaks caused by poor handling by hydrology workers.
The consequences of the blackouts described in the comments are severe: spoiled food, inability to pump water to elevated tanks, and a risk of dengue due to the proliferation of mosquitoes. "Food goes bad, it's impossible to pump water to the elevated tank, cooking with charcoal is an ordeal in these rainy and humid days," summarized one internet user.
Torres Hernández, former director of the Cuban Journalists' Union (UPEC) in Matanzas, has been documenting the energy crisis and other issues in the province since 2024. In March 2026, she described the blackouts as "psychological torture". In June 2026, residents from various areas of the province reported power outages lasting 55, 70, and even 85 consecutive hours without electricity, making Matanzas the most visible epicenter of the energy collapse that Cuba is experiencing.
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