Juan Esteban Lazo, the president of Cuba's National Assembly, announced on Thursday the suspension of all administrative functions in municipal assemblies and independent departments due to the ongoing energy crisis plaguing the nation.
The Popular Power Municipal Assembly of Centro Habana noted on Facebook that accountability meetings initially set for Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will now be rescheduled to begin on Monday, October 21, 2024. This mirrors a similar action taken in 2023, where the Cuban government also halted accountability assemblies because of energy shortages.
The Worsening Energy Crisis
This decision underscores the deepening energy crisis affecting the island, with multiple cities experiencing power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily in recent days. The Unión Eléctrica (UNE) warned of a particularly severe day of blackouts on Thursday, with a record-breaking shortfall projected at 1,678 MW.
Government's Response
In response to the dire situation, Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz is set to address the nation in an emergency broadcast on Cuban Television tonight, as announced by Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel. Through the social media platform X, Díaz-Canel instructed Marrero Cruz, alongside officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines, to "inform the public about the energy emergency the country is facing."
Current Power Plant Status
The UNE's daily report highlighted several power plant issues: the breakdown of unit 5 at the CTE Nuevitas, unit 2 at the CTE Felton, unit 4 at Energas Varadero, and unit 3 at the CTE Renté. Additionally, units undergoing maintenance include unit 2 at the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 4 at the CTE Cienfuegos, and unit 5 at the CTE Renté.