Cuba reaches minimum electricity production in weeks with most of its energy plants damaged or out of fuel

( Spanish) –– Cuba announced this Wednesday that it will not be able to meet daily electricity demand, a trend that has worsened since the end of September, according to information analyzed by based on reports from the Ministry of Energy and Mines published on its Facebook account.

Cuban authorities estimate that, by this Wednesday, the island will only be able to produce 42.75% of the electricity it requires during peak hours. That is, it will generate 2,005 megawatts, while waiting for a demand of 3,380 when more people need it.

This deficit of almost 60% in daily electricity production in Cuba has been constant since at least September 27, according to official reports.

This is not a new problem. Cuba’s limited infrastructure has not received the maintenance it requires for years and recurring blackouts date back to the 1990s. The situation was further aggravated in 2022 with the fire at the fuel facility in Matanzas (west of the island). , which destroyed 40% of the main fuel storage structure in the country.

The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, warned since March that the conditions of thermoelectric plants pose challenges for the country, according to statements on state television.

In fact, seven of the eight thermoelectric plants that supply energy to Cuba are damaged or undergoing maintenance, according to a statement released this Wednesday by the Cuban Electrical Union and the island’s Ministry of Energy and Mines.

In addition, Unión Eléctrica de Cuba reported that 37 power generation plants are out of service due to lack of fuel. These plants are located in the Patana areas of Mariel, Mariel and Santiago de Cuba.

has requested comments from the Cuban Electrical Union, as well as the Cuban government, to find out the number of people affected by the lack of electricity supply and what measures they are taking to improve the situation, and is awaiting a response.

This Monday, the Cuban authorities reported the installation of solar energy panels, with which they seek to increase the energy generation capacity on the island, but the first of the announced projects (which would produce about 1,000 watts) would be available within two years.

Power outages seriously affect the daily lives of Cubans, who encounter less public transportation, failures in traffic lights, ATMs, gasoline dispensers, electronic payment in stores, electric stoves and water pumps, for example. mention some examples.

In the Girón building in Havana, frequent blackouts have worsened the quality of life of some elderly people, as reported in a testimony collected by the EFE agency, which describes how 80-year-old residents with reduced mobility must climb several floors without having an elevator. in the property.

The lack of electricity in Cuba, added to other shortage problems, has fueled discontent on the island and has contributed to mass demonstrations over the years, such as the historic protests of July 11, 2021 and others registered in 2022 and 2024.