Cuba in Darkness: Government Admits No Solution in Sight
HAVANA TIMES – On Thursday, October 17, 2024, more than half of Cuba was without electricity, according to data from the state Electric Co. (UNE). It was the day with the lowest reported electricity generation of the year. On the same day, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero appeared on national television to address the energy “emergency” in a broadcast that was delayed due to “technical difficulties.”
In his remarks, Marrero denied that the country was in a “bottomless pit,” although he acknowledged the severity of the problem, attributing it to a lack of fuel and the poor condition of the infrastructure of the National Electric Energy Generation Network.
He mentioned that the government has a “plan” to “maximize the production of Cuban oil” and recover energy generation in the thermoelectric plants that use it, such as Felton and Guiteras. The objective announced by Marrero is also to earn foreign currency through the export of Cuban oil to enable to import supplies for the recovery of the generation network.
The contingency program also includes increasing the participation of renewable energy sources —a strategy that authorities have been announcing for years. The director of UNE anticipates that by next summer, the country will generate 600 MW daily from these sources, thus reducing dependence on foreign mobile generation ships (patanas) and diesel.
According to Marrero and Lopez Valdes, one of the biggest problems facing the system is “excess demand.” They have previously expressed their hope that colder weather would have a positive effect.
Lopez reported that, in addition to peak hours (between seven and nine at night), consumption increases in the early morning, supposedly due to the use of air conditioning. “In 2024, more than 100,000 air conditioning units have entered the country, which should be regulated to 24 degrees (75 F),” said the UNE director.
Another cause of increased demand is the use of electric equipment for cooking, compounded by instability in the distribution of liquefied gas. Recently, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente La O Levy, informed that the ship carrying this fuel could only be unloaded partially and with delay due to a lack of funds to pay suppliers. “The ship arrived, and we struggled to have the financial resources to unload the goods,” confirmed the prime minister on October 17.
Reducing Consumption
The reduction of consumption is a recurring rhetoric from the government. This Thursday’s televised appearance was no exception, hence they called for “exceptional measures.” This translates, in principle, into shutting down institutions and businesses that are not deemed “essential.” The strategy includes switching to telework in certain institutions —including municipal governments— and companies in various sectors, suspending classes, recreational and cultural activities, and activating Defense Zones.
Among the officials’ proposals is that citizens acquire their own photovoltaic solar systems. But how much does a solar panel cost? In October 2023, the state company Copextel announced it would sell 1 KWP power equipment for a value of 55,000 CUP. In the informal market, they are priced at 4,000 to 5,000 USD, depending on the power they generate..
The average monthly salary in Cuba hovers around 4,648 CUP, equivalent to $14.30 USD, according to the rate of the informal market as of October 17, 2024, making the cost of such equipment out of reach for most Cubans on the island.
Furthermore, Lopez suggested extending, and demanding, the use of renewable sources to “everyone who makes investments.”
For the private sector, a rise in electricity tariffs was also announced because “they generate wealth and have money to pay.” “Many of the private sector are high consumers and are paying subsidized rates, without a plan and without control,” added Marrero.
However, the prime minister did not provide details on the implementation of the measure, except that it would be a higher rate than that of the residential sector and must come into effect this year.
Neither Marrero nor the UNE director presented a strategy that would immediately alleviate the blackouts lasting more than 12 hours that citizens are suffering. On the contrary, Lopez said that solutions would come “step by step,” and results would only be seen “in the medium term.”
Lopez specifically referred to the technical state of two of the country’s main thermoelectric plants: Felton and Guiteras. Both plants need “light” maintenance, which will take several days, the director pointed out. However, he also acknowledged that one of Felton’s units has been out of service for over two years due to a breakdown.
What the population has to cope with
In the Plaza de la Revolución municipality in Havana, all “non-essential services that generate energy expenses” were suspended this Thursday, except for centers such as hospitals and food processing facilities. Classes were also suspended until Monday, and nightclubs and entertainment venues will remain closed.
The radio station Radio Rebelde shared similar information at the national level. “Only essential personnel should attend workplaces,” they announced.
Since Wednesday, October 16, authorities in the province of Camagüey, in the center of the country, announced they were working “to guarantee service for about three hours (a day).” In the Las Tunas province, they started distributing coal for cooking, especially in urban neighborhoods.
In August 2024, the Food Monitor Program alerted about the increase in food insecurity associated with the constant blackouts. Many families lost the scarce food they managed to obtain due to lack of refrigeration and not having how to cook it.
While officials talk about measures to “resist,” citizens on social media speak of collapse.
First published in Spanish by El Toque and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.