What Cuba and Ecuador Can Teach Us About Energy Crises
HAVANA TIMES – The chaotic state in which unfortunate Cuba finds itself today is evident across the most varied areas. Among them, the forced underconsumption of food for the average Cuban stands out, as they cannot afford the inflated prices that skyrocketed following the ill-timed implementation of the so-called “Tarea Ordenamiento” (the 2021 economic reform).
The dire state of hospital care is another example, worsening daily to such an extent that even regime sympathizers have stopped boasting about the pretentious “medical powerhouse” they once flaunted. Or take the definitive collapse of sugar production, a product for which Cuba was, for decades, the world’s leading exporter but now imports in quantities exceeding its exports. Then there’s the contraction of the tourism industry.
But in this article, I will focus on the energy crisis cruelly affecting the island’s inhabitants, especially those living in the country’s interior. It’s no longer appropriate to refer to them as suffering blackouts, it’s more accurate to say they enjoy brief periods of electricity.
However, Cuba is not alone in its misfortune within what Martí aptly named “Our America.” A similar situation is unfolding in Ecuador. I consider it worthwhile to draw a brief comparison between the two crises, analyzing their origins, potential solutions, and political implications.
The Roots of the Energy Crises
Let’s start at the beginning: What caused the energy crisis in both countries? In Ecuador, the government once invested heavily in hydroelectric plants. However, a severe and prolonged drought (and the resulting decrease in water reservoir levels) has significantly reduced energy generation.
Given this reality, some might argue that relying so heavily on hydroelectric power was a mistake and that it would have been wiser to develop alternative energy sources to address situations like this. Yet, it seems excessive to blame Ecuadorian authorities for choosing this eco-friendly energy type or failing to anticipate an extraordinary drought.
In Cuba, the situation is different. The current energy crisis became inevitable when the Castro regime, after losing Soviet subsidies, decided not to invest in new energy projects. Hydroelectric plants weren’t an option—Cuba’s long and narrow shape and its short, low-flow rivers make it unsuitable for such infrastructure.
But no investments were made in new thermoelectric plants either, despite a multi-million-dollar credit promised years ago by Putin’s Russia for that purpose. The Cuban regime has remained silent about this. Independent journalists have questioned what happened to that deal, but neither Diaz-Canel nor his Minister of Energy and Mines has bothered to respond, or, for that matter, inform the people about this crucial issue.
To make matters worse, old plants continue to be run on domestic crude oil, which is highly sulfuric and severely corrodes equipment. Thus, the Cuban communists, who love to tout “socialist planning,” seem to be adhering to the local saying: “Bread for today, hunger for tomorrow.”
Proposed Solutions
What about plans to solve the issue? Bloomberg Línea recently reported on Ecuador’s president, stating: “Noboa’s plan envisions securing additional thermal power generation to cover the deficit.” This includes installing 141 megawatts by November 2024, followed by another 300 megawatts in December. Additionally, there’s hope for rainfall to revive hydroelectric production. Improvements are already noticeable: in early December, Ecuador’s Primicias newspaper reported that, “power cuts would be reduced to five hours.”
And in Cuba? Nothing. There’s no indication of any solution—or even relief—for the problem. Instead, the regime seems intent on normalizing the endless cycle of blackouts and brief periods of power. This explains the daily news segment on Cuban television reporting on the expected energy deficit.
Political Implications
This scandalous situation invites bitter reflections on the differences between a democratic state like Ecuador and a communist dictatorship like Cuba. In the South American country, politicians (most notably President Noboa) aim for reelection in upcoming elections (scheduled for February 9, 2025, for the first round, and April 13, if a runoff is needed).
In Cuba, elections are nonexistent. In national votes, the only candidates are those put forward by the regime. The number of candidates matches the 470 parliamentary seats, ensuring all official nominees are elected—since no alternatives exist and there’s no hope of casting a protest vote against the ruling authorities.
Thus, the Cuban people continue to pay the price for the political blank check they rashly and suicidally signed in 1959 to the then-young Fidel Castro.
First published in Spanish by El Toque and translated and posted in English by Havana Times.