General blackout in Cuba? Electric company denies rumors, but the crisis worsens

In the last few hours, the Santiago de Cuba Electric Company denied on social media the rumors that warned of an imminent general blackout in the province.

Through a statementThe entity clarified that, although the situation of the National Electricity System is complex, there is no such possibility. The company asked the population to stay informed through its official channels, where they will provide updates on the electric service.

However, this denial has not calmed citizens, who have responded on social media describing the prolonged power outages they have experienced in recent days.

Several users report power outages lasting up to 18 hours a day. “Here in the town of Máximo Gómez, Matanzas province, we have already had an 18-hour blackout and it continues until midnight,” said Roilan Yunisleidis.

Others, like Rubén G. Moreno in Camagüey, say his circuit has been without electricity for 14 hours straight, reaffirming that while the general blackout may be false, prolonged interruptions are a reality.

Cuba’s energy minister describes paying for fuel to generate electricity on the island as a “financial sacrifice”

In the last few hours, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, offered statements on the energy situation in a recent interview.

According to the minister, the main cause of the problems is the fuel shortage, which affects not only electricity generation but also other areas of the economy.

Currently, large quantities of fuel are stranded in Cuban ports, waiting to be unloaded, which is expected to take place in the coming days, in what has been described as a “financial sacrifice” for the country. The process of distributing the fuel to generator sets and service stations will begin immediately after unloading.

He said that Cuba consumes about 3,000 tons of hydrocarbons daily, and a 20,000-ton ship is enough for only one week’s supply. Therefore, between two and three ships a week are needed to cover the needs for diesel, gasoline, liquefied gas, fuel oil and turbo fuel.

The president assured that workers in the electrical sector and the Cuba-Petroleum Union (CUPET) continue to make efforts to mitigate the crisis and guarantee the distribution of available fuel, although the situation remains critical for the population.