The Cuban government hopes to end or at least diminish “ by the end of the year power cuts that hit the population daily, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Monday.
In Cuba, since May, not a day goes by without load shedding. ” Before the end of the year, we must (…) get out of the blackout or reduce it “, declared Monday, August 29, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who visited several thermoelectric power stations in the east of the country, currently under rehabilitation. The Cuban president has promised to seek funds for the maintenance of power plants and to promote renewable energies, according to public television.
According to the public company, the National Electric Union (UNE), 95% of energy production in Cuba is from fossil fuels, mostly imported. The rise in world prices has increased the cost of these imports by 30%. At the same time, of the twenty power stations in the country, nineteen are over 35 years old, recognized the government which, faced with maintenance work and repeated breakdowns, has little room for maneuver.
Events
This summer, exasperation with these repeated cuts reached such a level that some islanders did not hesitate to take to the streets to protest. Very rare manifestations of discontent in Cuba and even more so since the historic protests of July 11 and 12, 2021 when thousands of Cubans took to the streets to cries of ” We are hungry », « Freedom “. Nearly 500 people out of 700 prosecuted have already been sentenced for their participation in these demonstrations, sometimes up to 25 years in prison, according to the Miami-based NGO Cubalex.
The island is going through its worst economic crisis in three decades, with growing shortages of food, medicine and fuel.
(with AFP)