On Thursday evening, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz appeared in a turbulent broadcast on Cuban radio and television alongside officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mines to discuss the country's severe energy crisis. Marrero Cruz emphasized the gravity of the situation, indicating that a quick resolution is not on the horizon. He identified three key factors contributing to the electricity generation shortfall: infrastructure conditions, fuel shortages, and increased demand. However, he highlighted the fuel shortage as the most critical issue.
As a policy, the government has chosen to prioritize the residential sector, resulting in the "suspension of economic activities" to ensure energy supply to the population, though the effort seems futile given the 1,678 MW of power outages planned for the same day. Marrero pointed out that the lack of cooking gas has led to a rise in electricity demand, complicating the situation further.
Attempted Solutions and Long-Term Plans
Alfredo López, director general of the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), stated that fuel shortages should slightly improve starting Friday with the unloading of a fuel oil tanker designated for power plants, along with an additional 2,000 tons of diesel for generators. In the medium to long term, Marrero asserted that addressing Cuba's recurring energy crisis involves "eliminating reliance on fossil fuels, replacing them with clean energy." He projected a contribution of about 900 MW from renewable sources like photovoltaic energy by 2025.
Marrero assured that no restrictions would be imposed on citizens seeking a better quality of life, though he hinted at higher electricity rates for the private sector. "We've observed an increase in non-state management forms paying subsidized rates without oversight," he noted, without further elaboration.
Maintenance and Technical Challenges
The Felton and Guiteras thermoelectric plants, two crucial components of the system, are scheduled for technical maintenance to "restore their design capacity," though no specific dates were given. López added that while thermal generation aligns with period expectations, distributed and mobile generation face challenges, exacerbated by fuel shortages amounting to about 800 MW as of Thursday.
Both officials acknowledged that the current issues might persist for over two years due to the deteriorating state of the thermoelectric plants, fuel scarcity, and the nation's ongoing economic crisis. As usual, they urged citizens to adopt energy-saving measures and consider alternative energy sources and solar panels.
Earlier in the day, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel communicated via social media platform X that he directed Marrero Cruz and other cabinet members to hold a special session addressing the "energy emergency situation." He attributed the complex scenario to the intensified economic war and financial and energy persecution by the United States, which hampers the import of fuel and essential resources for the industry.
The broadcast featuring Manuel Marrero Cruz and Ministry of Energy and Mines officials was set for 8:30 p.m. but was delayed due to alleged "link issues with Santiago de Cuba," where the Prime Minister was located.