Lifting the U.S. Blockade Would Prevent Blackouts in Cuba: FM Rodriguez
Young people show solidarity with Cuba, 2024. X/ @JOTACE7777
October 19, 2024 Hour: 3:47 pm
18 days of U.S. blockade cause Cuba losses of $250 million, an amount that would allow for maintenance of the energy system.
On Saturday, Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, denounced the devastating effects of the U.S. blockade on the island, specifically its impact on the Cuban electrical grid.
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Rodríguez stated that the economic damages caused by just 18 days of the blockade amount to the annual cost of maintaining the National Electro-Energy System, estimated at around US$250 million.
“If the U.S. government truly wanted to support the Cuban people, it would lift the blockade, which would prevent the constant blackouts we are suffering,” he asserted, calling Washington’s statements “shameless” given that they “reveal their triumphalist sentiment regarding the impact of the blockade on the Cuban electro-energy system.”
“Bad news for the State Department and its anonymous spokespeople and toxic mouthpieces,” Rodríguez said after announcing that the Cuban electrical system is recovering with popular support. He also took the opportunity to refute claims by President Joe Biden’s administration that the United States had allowed humanitarian exports to his country.
“It’s a lie that US$100 billion in humanitarian aid has been authorized. The reality is that even small solidarity donations are being blocked. Did they misplace the zeros? Or are they just mocking us?” Rodríguez said, highlighting that real support for the Cuban people would be lifting the blockade.
On Friday, the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA-TCP) held the United States responsible for the blackouts that had occurred over the past two days in Cuba, a situation it attributed to Washington’s “financial persecution” of the Cuban revolution.
“The complex situation that this dignified nation is experiencing today is the result of the economic war, the financial persecution, and the restrictions on fuel supplies imposed by the U.S. administration, which seeks to stifle Cuba in its commitment to the well-being of its people,” said ALBA-TCP, a regional organization comprising Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Venezuela.
Update on the Energy Situation on the Island
As of midday Saturday, significant progress has been reported in restoring electrical power. The Santa Cruz Technical Energy Commission (CTE) has resumed operations, and efforts are underway to connect the Mariel CTE.
According to engineer Lázaro Guerra, director of Electricity for the Energy Ministry, the microsystem in the central region remains stable, while efforts are being made to restart the Guiteras and Nuevitas CTEs, powered by the Camagüey microsystem.
Guerra also noted that, unlike previous blackout episodes, fuel availability is more limited this time, though gradual recovery is expected. Currently, the country has 370 MW of electrical generation in operation, with microsystems functioning in almost all parts of the island, except in Artemisa.
The context of this energy crisis has been exacerbated by breakdowns in several power plants, including the Cienfuegos CTE, which is out of service. However, microsystems have been created to mitigate the effects of the electrical collapse.
“The dedication and effort of all the electrical sector technicians working in these challenging times is admirable,” said Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who personally supervised the national power dispatch.
Possible disconnections in subsystems during the restoration process but greater electricity coverage is expected as generating units are integrated into the grid. Airports and trains continue to operate in Cuba, where authorities have also enabled essential services to ensure communication.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Minrex – teleSUR
