A Cuban resident in Spain identified as Linet posted a video on Facebook that has garnered over 38,000 views, in which she humorously and expressively describes the endless cycle of money that Cuban emigrants spend to try to alleviate the electrical crisis their families are experiencing on the Island.
Linet's story follows a sequence that thousands of Cubans abroad will recognize immediately: first came the generator, bought with her uncle for about $500 when the blackouts became unbearable.
The solution lasted only two or three months: without gasoline for the generator, the investment became useless.
"The money you send, if they take it for the plant, they won’t eat," he explains, summarizing the trap that families in Cuba find themselves in.
The next bet was on rechargeable fans. "Let's see how long they last, because if you use them daily, they don't last, not even the best in the world."
Now the goal is an EcoFlow, a portable battery priced between $549 and over $1,150 depending on the model.
"Send 500, 600, 800, 1000, whatever is necessary to get an EcoFlow," says Linet, before sarcastically anticipating that it won't be the definitive solution either.
"I'm already preparing for what comes after the EcoFlow. (...) The EcoFlow won't work in Cuba anymore; they will come up with something to make sure the EcoFlow doesn't function, and you'll have to send for something else again," he warns.
The Cuban doesn't hide the emotional toll that this dynamic entails. "It's not easy; it's constant stress," she confesses, acknowledging that sometimes she prefers to stay silent rather than "say something foolish."
"I don't know how long this is going to last," he concludes.
The video reflects a documented reality: Cuba is undergoing the worst energy crisis in its recent history, with blackouts affecting up to 68% of the territory simultaneously and power outages exceeding 32 hours per day in Havana. In some provinces, households can go without electrical supply for two consecutive days.
The generation deficit reached 1,871 MW last April, with nine of the 16 thermoelectric units in the country out of service due to breakdowns or lack of fuel.
The regime acknowledged at the end of 2025 that the blackouts would continue throughout this year, promising only a "slight improvement" that has not materialized.
In light of that state void, the diaspora has de facto taken on the role of a private energy provider.
The EcoFlow has become the most sought-after item that emigrants try to afford for their families, as illustrated by a young woman who gifted one to her mother in Cuba, generating significant resonance on social media.
The financial and emotional pressure on emigrants is increasing.
Some have resorted to cutting off communication with family members overwhelmed by constant requests for assistance, while independent studies estimate that between 8 billion and 10 billion dollars would be needed to rehabilitate the Cuban electrical system.
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