The Girón Newspaper, the official organ of the province of Matanzas, published a note about old cast iron plates that still survive in rural areas of Cuba, presenting them as a "curious story" of artifacts from the past. The reaction from Cubans was immediate and devastating.
The publication, featured in the Matancera Postcards section, asked in a folkloric tone whether readers were aware that "there are still various and ancient cast iron plates in rural areas of the national territory, with a greater abundance of those popularly known as coal plates."
What the official media presented as nostalgia, Cubans interpreted as a warning sign about the regression the country is experiencing. In July 2026, Matanzas recorded up to 87 consecutive hours without electricity, the longest documented power outage in the province to date.
In that context, a charcoal iron ceases to be a museum piece and becomes a useful tool. The comments reflected a mix of indignation and bitter humor on the subject.
"What poverty! We have returned to the 19th century," wrote one reader. Another user was more direct: "A little preamble before we start using it again. Welcome to the modern stone age in Cuba."
Several commentators noted that the artifact could soon become a thing of the past. "At the rate Cuba is regressing, it won't be long before we're walking around in loincloths and with feathers on our heads. For God's sake, don't normalize misery and backwardness. Publishing this as we move into the 21st century is an ode to poverty," wrote a reader.
Another person went even further: "If what’s missing for Columbus to discover us is for the three caravels to reach land. Right now, we are further behind than the agricultural-potters and the gatherer-hunter-fishers. At least they had something to plant, hunt, and fish; we don’t even have that anymore."
The question about fuel also immediately surfaced in the comments, recalling that some of those old irons ran on gasoline: "Where's the fuel?" asked a user. "At this pace of life, the coal iron will undoubtedly become widespread," declared another.
Cuba is experiencing a documented technological regression. In May 2026, a moped adapted with charcoal using a handmade gasifier went viral in Villa Clara.
In March, a mechanic in Havana converted a 1980 Fiat Polski to run on coal due to the gasoline shortage.
The industrial physical index in 2024 fell below the levels of the Special Period of the 90s, one of the worst moments for the Cuban economy since 1959. The fuel crisis is so severe that Miguel Díaz-Canel officially requested to ensure materials for cooking with charcoal and firewood.
A commentator summarized what many Cubans think about the country's regression: "At any moment, we will get fire by rubbing stones. Publications like this about the coal plates leave us speechless, showing us the direction things are heading."
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