The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, the largest electricity generation plant in Cuba located in Matanzas, published a technical update on its Facebook page this Friday, which sparked a wave of mockery, irony, and collective sarcasm among Cubans.
The plant reported that, following a successful hydraulic test, it proceeded to wash the boiler with a mixture of water and phosphate to "eliminate acidity until the pH reaches neutral."
The official statement specified that the procedure "may take a few hours; it all depends on how quickly pH 7 is reached," and that the EMCE [Empresa de Mantenimiento a Centrales Eléctricas] from Havana, Servicios Generales, was in charge of the operations, concluding with a terse "we will continue to provide updates."
What followed in the comments section was a masterclass in Cuban black humor at the expense of the regime and its battered energy infrastructure.
A user summarized the popular sentiment with a Cuban slang expression that says it all: "The tale of the good pipe hahaha." The phrase refers to something endless and circular that never leads to any concrete outcome, and it could hardly be more accurately applied to Guiteras, a plant that has accumulated at least 17 unscheduled interruptions so far in 2026 and has not received any major maintenance since 2010.
Other commentators chose to use academic irony. "I love how I'm learning from these reports [...] I think this came up in my final Chemistry exam in 11th grade," wrote one. Another internet user celebrated with sarcasm: "Thanks, I'm almost ready to graduate as an engineer, no worries, creative resilience."
Someone else got straight to the point with a complete formula: "PH = -Log[H+], where [H+] is the concentration of hydrogen or hydronium ions in moles per liter [...] once this formula is applied, the current will surely follow."
The comparison with popular culture emerged quickly: "This novel has more seasons than La Rosa de Guadalupe," asserted one user. Another noted with resignation, "Only for it to last 3 hours." Perhaps the best expression of the accumulated skepticism came from the one who wrote, "Take your time!!! We can take care of what’s missing the day after tomorrow at the next stop!" Regarding the future of the plant, one internet user sarcastically predicted that Cuban thermal power plants "only operate at pH 7" and that "in the future they will have to choose between Pasta Perla or Colgate."
The context surrounding these mockeries is devastating. The total collapse of the National Electroenergetic System on September 18 was the eighth national blackout of the year. The Guiteras experienced breakdowns in the economizer again, and on September 23 a leak was detected during the hydraulic test which further delayed the repairs.
This Friday, the forecast for peak demand was a supply of 1140 MW, with a demand of 3100 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1960 MW. If the predicted circumstances persist, this would lead to an impact of 1990 MW, reported on its networks the Unión Eléctrica.
The most lasting solution for the Guiteras, involving complex repair and general maintenance work, would require, according to reports, a shutdown of approximately six months, an intervention that the regime has not carried out in over 15 years. Meanwhile, Cubans remain in the dark and are learning pH chemistry from the technical updates on Facebook.
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