The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba forced hundreds of residents in Santiago de Cuba to endure extensive lines on Friday in a desperate attempt to secure propane, following a widespread blackout that left many unable to cook. Approximately 60% of the city's gas-supplied population remains without access to the fuel, resulting in chaotic scenes as crowds scoured various neighborhoods for propane, according to local journalist Yosmany Mayeta.
Last week, the regime announced a partial unloading of a ship carrying propane, claiming it would help ease the country's strained situation. However, Friday's blackout caught many citizens without any supply of the essential product. Mayeta described the scenes as potentially mistaken for a festival, yet they were actually throngs of individuals scrambling for propane amid the power outage.
Electric Grid in Disarray
The electrical situation has deteriorated to such an extent that efforts have only been made to restore power in two circuits, which include critical hospitals like the Infantil Sur "La Colonia Española" and the Clínico Quirúrgico Juan Bruno Zayas. The rest of the province remains shrouded in darkness, Mayeta confirmed.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) reported a total disconnection of the National Electrical System (SEN) on Friday morning following the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, one of the country's major power sources. The Electric Union (UNE) is working on the system's restoration, but a short-term solution is not in sight, as stated by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz during a radio and television appearance on Thursday night.
Government's Grim Outlook
Marrero acknowledged that the situation is "extremely critical" and, although a slight improvement is anticipated after the unloading of a fuel ship, an immediate resolution remains unlikely. The government's response has done little to alleviate the mounting frustration and despair among the Cuban populace.