Cuba's leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, has responded to the complete disconnection of the country's National Electroenergetic System (SEN) following the breakdown of the Guiteras thermoelectric plant on Friday morning. "We are prioritizing the resolution of this sensitive energy issue," he stated. "We won't rest until power is restored," he added.
The immediate public reaction was harsh, with numerous Cubans urging Díaz-Canel to resign. "Leave the country, you've done enough damage," and "Take what you've stolen and go," were among the angry comments directed at him. Others expressed frustration by calling the government a "gang of thieves" and questioning their competence.
Criticism also centered around the government's alleged misuse of funds. "They needed $300 million for energy investments, yet spent on empty hotels," one Cuban criticized, highlighting the mismanagement of resources.
Just after noon local time on October 18th, the Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on social media that the SEN had been completely disconnected at 11:07 AM, following the Guiteras plant's failure. The Ministry stated that efforts are underway to restore the electrical system, providing no further details about the incident affecting Cuba's largest thermoelectric plant in Matanzas province.
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, the General Director of Electricity for the Ministry of Energy and Mines, appeared urgently on Cuban television to discuss the situation. He noted that investigations are ongoing to determine why the Guiteras plant failed, causing the massive blackout, and admitted there is "no set timeline" for full restoration.
Efforts are currently focused on inspecting each thermoelectric unit to facilitate their gradual recovery. The UNE's director, Alfredo López, had previously warned of maintenance-related shutdowns at both the Felton and Guiteras plants, though these were intended to be planned outages.
On October 18th, the UNE reported several units out of service due to failures: unit 1 of CTE Santa Cruz, unit 2 of CTE Felton, and units 3 and 6 of CTE Renté. Meanwhile, unit 2 of CTE Santa Cruz, unit 4 of CTE Cienfuegos, and unit 5 of CTE Renté are undergoing maintenance.
Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz appeared on Cuban radio and television on Thursday night alongside Ministry of Energy and Mines officials to address the ongoing energy crisis. Marrero Cruz emphasized the severity of the situation and warned that a swift resolution is unlikely, although a slight improvement was anticipated following a fuel shipment expected to arrive by Friday.