Recent comments from Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel have sparked widespread outrage on social media. In his statements, Díaz-Canel claimed that his administration is not to blame for the power outages plaguing Cuba and suggested they are victims of a discredit campaign. A widely circulated video even shows him calling for protests against Argentine President Javier Milei, seemingly deflecting from Cuba's severe internal crisis.
The Cuban public quickly responded. A post on CiberCuba regarding his comments has accumulated more than 3,200 responses filled with anger and criticism aimed at the regime. Many are demanding accountability for how the country's resources are being managed and questioning the audacity of the leader's remarks.
One user expressed the general sentiment by stating, “If you have no money and can't handle this anymore, hand it over. The people have nothing and are not to blame; they are the ones suffering from hunger, lack of medicine, and power. We live in extreme poverty with wages that are not enough. This is not how a revolution is built; it’s torture to live like this.”
Another comment challenged, “Where are the dollars from all the doctors who have been paid in dollars for years and are given Cuban pesos? Where are the dollars from remittances, tourism, and exports? Where are the dollars from MLC stores? Speak up! That's what you need to talk about.”
The public also criticizes the state's inefficiency and internal corruption. “That's the government's responsibility; if private ownership hadn't been banned, maybe things wouldn't be like this. They have money, just not for the people. They're incompetent,” another user remarked.
Critics point to the inconsistencies in the official narrative: “This man invites protests for the Argentine people, yet we Cubans can't protest in our own streets. So, Argentinians can protest, but we cannot. No one believes in this incompetent government anymore.”
The dissatisfaction is evident: “It's simple: if you can't handle this country, leave and let more capable people manage and govern it,” said another comment, encapsulating the popular frustration.
Government Attempts to Justify Energy Crisis
Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, announced that by 2025, power outages might decrease due to the addition of 46 solar parks with up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity. However, he admitted that outages will not disappear due to the prolonged deterioration of thermal power plants, a lack of spare parts, and a steady decline in national crude oil production.
De la O Levy noted that electricity generation consumes more than 50% of the available fuel in Cuba, and the infrastructure for transporting crude is inadequate. National oil production has fallen by 138,000 tons this year due to a lack of funding and resources, increasing reliance on imports.
The government is now focusing on boosting renewable energy with support from China, planning to install 100 solar parks by 2031. The first one was activated in February outside of Havana.
Nevertheless, experts caution that these developments will not sufficiently address the longstanding structural issues of Cuba's electrical system. Power outages continue to severely impact daily life and the national economy, which saw no growth in 2024.
In several provinces, power cuts exceed 20 hours daily, disrupting production and deepening social unrest. This scenario has fueled major anti-government protests in recent years.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Challenges
Why is Cuba experiencing frequent power outages?
Cuba is facing frequent power outages due to the prolonged deterioration of thermal power plants, lack of spare parts, and declining national crude oil production, leading to increased reliance on imports.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address energy issues?
The Cuban government plans to reduce power outages by 2025 through the addition of solar parks and is focusing on renewable energy with support from China, aiming to install 100 solar parks by 2031.
How have Cubans reacted to the government's handling of the crisis?
Cubans have reacted with outrage, criticizing the government's handling of resources and inefficiency, and demanding accountability for the ongoing crisis.