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Cuban Government Purchases Water Pumps from Spain Despite Blaming U.S. Embargo for Water Supply Crisis

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 by James Rodriguez

The Cuban government has recently acquired new water pumping equipment from Spain in an effort to address the country's dire water supply infrastructure issues. This move comes even as the regime continues to blame the ongoing U.S. embargo for the problems plaguing its water distribution network. A report by Cuban Television News (NTV) highlighted the arrival of a shipment containing 21 new aqueduct pumps, expected to benefit approximately 2.3 million people impacted by outdated and broken equipment.

Although the report omitted the origin of the imported equipment, NTV cameras captured labels on the wooden crates protecting the shipment, revealing that the pumps originated from Spanish ports. The shipment's departure point was the Port of Bilbao, with the buyer being Cubahidraulica, an import-export company affiliated with the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources (INRH). Located in Havana's Miramar neighborhood, this area is known for its concentration of joint ventures, shipping companies, importers, and entities that obscurely manage the cash flows of state-owned enterprises and anonymous societies established by the regime.

Behind the Purchase: Cuban Government's Water Supply Program

The supplier of the equipment to Cubahidraulica was KSB ITUR Spain S.A., based in the Basque Country, which dispatched the cargo to the Port of Mariel. According to official media, this acquisition is part of a government initiative to enhance water supply for the population. It involves purchasing "21 new horizontal pumping units," adding to the 1,304 pumps already in the country out of a planned total of 1,387 units.

The report did not specify the total investment cost. Alexis Acosta Cruz, Vice President of the Superior Organization of Business Management (OSDE) for Water and Sanitation, mentioned that "these pumps are part of a program for replacing pumping and disinfection equipment funded centrally by the country."

Cuban Regime's Contradictions and Persistent Blame on U.S. Embargo

Despite the ability to import necessary equipment to improve living conditions in Cuba, the regime consistently cites the "blockade" as the rationale for its failures and inefficiencies amid the country's numerous public service challenges. In January 2020, Cuban Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh claimed that the U.S. embargo hindered water distribution on the island, preventing an efficient service.

On social media, the former INRH president stated that the government is critically analyzing problems, applying collective intelligence and innovation to confront the U.S. government's blockade and achieve efficient service. In November 2023, Deynis González García, Director of Operations for the Ciego de Ávila Aqueduct and Sewerage Company, attributed frequent disruptions in the province's water supply cycles and insufficient capacity to the "blockade," stating that it prevented the acquisition of four approved pumping units, with no exact date for their arrival.

Such justifications are prevalent in the rhetoric of Cuban regime leaders, who relentlessly use the "blockade" as an excuse to deflect responsibility for mismanagement affecting Cuban lives, from the collapse of the electrical system to the crisis in national industry and the failure of public services like healthcare, education, transportation, and water supply.

Questionable Use of International Funds and Ongoing Infrastructure Struggles

The poor state of Cuba's hydraulic infrastructure raises questions about the use of financial aid, such as the 102.3 million dollars provided to the Cuban State by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). This inquiry mirrors the curiosity of many Cubans regarding the fate of 1.2 billion euros granted by Russia for the construction of thermal power plants.

According to official reports from May, the island's relationship with the Kuwait Fund dates back over two decades (since 2003), during which five credits were granted for rehabilitation projects involving aqueduct, sewer, and storm drainage networks, among others. Of the funds allocated to the INRH, 84.7 percent has been used, supposedly benefiting 1.454 million residents in Santiago de Cuba, Holguín, and Havana provinces.

However, recently published data confirm that thousands still lack daily water supply, mainly due to power outages. Other contributing factors include drought, inadequate distribution networks, equipment failures, and corruption. Despite claims of an extensive investment program to secure water supply for the population, the obsolescence of infrastructure remains a persistent issue, with aging equipment causing frequent supply interruptions, further exacerbating public dissatisfaction.

Approximately 700,000 people in Cuba do not receive water daily due to power cuts, as the water sector is the second-largest consumer of electricity after residential demand, according to Granma. Last year's statistics indicated that around two million people receive water service every three days or more, with 478 communities lacking complete or partial aqueduct networks. These challenges directly impact quality of life and health, forcing reliance on alternative systems to obtain the essential resource.

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