Hundreds of Cubans protested the constant electricity blackouts in the Poblado de los Palacios in the province of Pinar del Río at midnight this Thursday.
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The demonstrators expressed slogans such as “Turn on the current”, “No more tooth”, “We are hungry” and “Díaz-Canel Singao”, according to an article in the ABC newspaper that recounts the situation on the island.
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Minutes later, the communications company ETECSA suspended internet access throughout the island.
So far the status of the other locations in the country is unknown.
URGENT: Protests in Cuba, people in Pinar del Rio took to the streets, after more than 11 hours of blackouts. They had been without electricity for several weeks. The regime has just knocked down the internet in the entire area, along with other telecommunications. pic.twitter.com/D6tQiuW0rW
— Agustín Antonetti (@agusantonetti) July 15, 2022
Electric company predicted third day of
blackouts in the week
The Electric Union of Cuba (UNE) predicted this Wednesday another day of
blackouts during peak hours due to an impact of 14 percent.
The state company reported that the estimated impact in the hours of greatest consumption will be 377 megawatts (MW) since the availability is 2,643 MW and the demand is 2,950 MW.
The UNE has reported power outages almost daily in the country since mid-March 2022.
Since then, and until last weekend, there has been an affectation in the supply in at least 54 days, practically every day since June, according to a count made by Efe based on company statements.
The authorities assure that they are working to stabilize the service, especially in these hot months of July and August when the demand for the use of air conditioners in homes increases.
The Cuban Presidency reports daily on energy generation and demand in the country, which reflects the importance of this issue in economic and political terms.
The blackouts were one of the factors behind the anti-government protests last July, along with shortages, inflation and political complaints.
INTERNATIONAL WRITING
*With information from EFE
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