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The Cuban actor Luis Alberto García Novoa published this Wednesday on his Facebook profile a detailed analysis of the damage that the regime of prolonged blackouts is causing to Cuba's electrical transformers, summarizing it in a phrase that became the centerpiece of the text: "Sise puede cannot stand against common sense."
García began the post with a personal analogy from the 90s: during the eight-hour blackouts alternating with eight hours of electricity, someone made the decision to turn the air conditioning on and off that kept the strongrooms of the ICAIC at the necessary temperature to preserve the rolls of celluloid. The result was catastrophic. "Many film reels turned into highly flammable alcohol," he wrote. He added, "The same thing happened with refrigerators where various types of food were stored. I saw whole pigs that, after undergoing that freezing/thawing regime, had to be buried."
The actor warned that the current phenomenon is not limited to the subway of Old Havana: "What I'm sharing doesn't happen only in the subway, it happens in any circuit."
The technical analysis shared by García details five mechanisms through which the cycle of 48 hours without electricity followed by just two or three hours of service destroys transformers.
The first is thermal shock: the equipment goes from ambient temperature to full operation in minutes, causing mechanical expansion and contraction in the copper windings and core laminations, loosening fittings and cracking insulations.
The second is the absorption of moisture through the so-called "breathing" effect: as it cools down, the transformer draws in air from the environment, introducing moisture that degrades the insulating paper and contaminates the dielectric oil.
The third point is the inrush current peaks at each start, which can reach between eight and 15 times the nominal current of the transformer, repeatedly stressing switches and fuses.
The simultaneous demand is the main issue: when electricity is restored, refrigerators, air conditioners, and water pumps try to start up at the same time, causing severe voltage drops that damage the motors.
The fifth factor is thermal overload: during the few hours of service, users take the opportunity to pump water, cool food, and charge batteries, causing the transformer to operate at maximum capacity without rest. The text's conclusion is clear: "Although the transformer 'rests' for 48 hours, the short cycling is not optimal. The system suffers more from cyclical thermal stress, moisture absorption during shutdown periods, and the impact of the simultaneous startup of all loads than from continuous operation."
The post generated an avalanche of reactions. Individuals with backgrounds in electricity and engineering described the text as a "masterclass" and pointed out that the Ministry of Energy and Mines likely lacks the capacity to understand the content presented. Several commentators recalled similar past incidents: the loss of tapes in the 1990s at the corner of 23 and P, tourist warehouses in Varadero with buried Spanish hams, and the deterioration of boilers in thermoelectric plants during the Special Period. One of the most shared comments summed up the general sentiment: "The take-and-put has already become a dangerous routine."
The post comes at the worst time of the Cuban electrical crisis in decades: the deficit reached 2,208 MW on June 25, with only 1,015 MW available against a demand of 3,150 MW. Blackouts exceeded 85 consecutive hours in Matanzas and 50 hours in Havana, and the Electric Union admitted that there are eight damaged transformers in Guantánamo with no replacements available.
García, who on June 25 denounced that his building in Playa had been without electricity or water for 48 hours, has become one of the most active critical voices in the Cuban cultural scene in light of the energy crisis. Experts estimate that restoring the country's electrical system would require between 8 billion and 10 billion dollars and a minimum timeframe of three to five years.
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