‘There is no money’: Cuba fears total collapse amid grid failure and financial crisis.

[helix]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/oct/26/cuba-power-grid-failure-financial-crisis

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/mar/13/the-cuban-collapse-photo-essay

[El Presidente]

Tragic. "if" the US could reach out now, I know difficult, but intelligently, and post-election, It could be a regional game changer. 

[El Presidente]

The below is not a political post on US elections. 

FOH has always permitted links/threads to US Cuba political opinion/relations. It is specific to the US/Cuba relationship as it affects us all. 

IMHO. Cuban government has largely itelf to blame. The listing of Cuba by the former US goverment as a "Sponsor of terrorism"...and its non removal by the present administration has been a "game changer". 

Where it heads from here is anyone's guess. I am assuming the power at president Miguel Díaz-Canel's house has never gone off. 

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-policy-toward-cuba-hangs-balance-presidential-election-looms-2024-10-28/

[JohnnyO]

There is a big difference between "There is no money" and "I no pay". Cuba has money, they just prefer to establish lines of credit for goods they will never pay for. I was there for the blackout and the gas stations were selling fuel that night at the Cupet on 33 Ave and 42 St (Playa) and the following day in Oro Negro in Cujae. If their fuel situation was so bad, I doubt they'd be selling fuel to the public. They have a worn out electrical system that needed maintenance/replacement years ago. No investor is willing to put one cent for solar, wind energy or other system because they know Cuba will not pay. No US policy will fix Cuba's problems and if the orange haired guy wins, Cuba will be in worse shape if you can imagine that. John

[ha_banos]

4 hours ago...

 

Unión Eléctrica UNE

‼️Informative note‼️.

SEN situation for October 29, 2024.
👉Yesterday, starting at 05:19 hours, the electric service began to be affected by a lack of generation capacity, the affectation was restored at 02:11 hours this morning and the service began to be affected again at 05:30 hours in the morning.

The maximum affectation due to a lack of generation capacity during peak hours was 1200 MW at 19:30 hours, not coinciding with peak hours. 7 MW affected in Guantánamo by the passage of the hurricane are reported. Impact greater than planned due to demand above forecast.

The availability of the SEN at 07:00 hours is 2015 MW and the demand 2250 MW, with 271 MW affected by capacity deficit. During the average time, an impact due to deficit of 650 MW is estimated, concentrated in the central eastern zone due to high transfers to that zone.

Unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 3 of the CTE Cienfuegos and unit 2 of the CTE Felton are in breakdown. Unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz and unit 5 of the CTE Renté are under maintenance. This morning, unit 1 of the CTE Felton will be taken out of service to carry out the planned maintenance that cannot be postponed for 10 days.
The limitations in thermal generation are 538 MW. 66 distributed generation plants with 409 MW and the Santiago de Cuba plant with 89 MW are out of service due to fuel, for a total of 498 MW.

It is estimated that during peak hours there will be availability of 1902 MW and a maximum demand of 3150 MW, for a deficit of 1248 MW, so if the expected conditions continue, an impact of 1318 MW is forecast during this time, with a greater impact in the central eastern zone.

UNE-MINEM

[SUP8333]

Can't say it won't happen...but what happens if the stock in our humidors are the last generation of Cuban sticks?

[ha_banos]

3 hours ago, SUP8333 said:

Can't say it won't happen...but what happens if the stock in our humidors are the last generation of Cuban sticks?

You're not the only one to think so....

[SCgarman]

3 hours ago, SUP8333 said:

Can't say it won't happen...but what happens if the stock in our humidors are the last generation of Cuban sticks?

Life goes on. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west. Cuban cigars are not food, water or shelter. Not essential for life. And Padron '64's are an appropriate substitute. At least for my needs. YMMV

[VeguerosMAN]

Perhaps there is a method to this madness. What if the Cuban government wants all of their citizens to leave the island and replace them with foreign citizens and investors? If that's the case, Padron or Fuente can buy tobacco farms in Cuba pennies on the dollar. 

[SUP8333]

3 hours ago, ha_banos said:

You're not the only one to think so...

Now that you mention it.... Yikes!

[JohnS]

3 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Life goes on. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west. Cuban cigars are not food, water or shelter. Not essential for life. And Padron '64's are an appropriate substitute. At least for my needs. YMMV

Excellent point. Being forced to leave Cuba did not stop the Padron and Fuente families from achieving bigger and better things, right?

[VeguerosMAN]

13 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Excellent point. Being forced to leave Cuba did not stop the Padron and Fuente families from achieving bigger and better things, right?

The Fuente family wasn't forced to leave Cuba.  They established their name in Tampa long before the revolution and used Cuban leaves until Castro took over 😀

[JohnS]

3 minutes ago, VeguerosMAN said:

The Fuente family wasn't forced to leave Cuba.  They established their name in Tampa long before the revolution and used Cuban leaves until Castro took over 😀

Of course. However, you'd think if they had a choice they would love to have access nowadays to Cuban land to farm tobacco. Still, it hasn't stopped them finding success elsewhere.

[Chitmo]

So what I’m hearing is that I should risk my marriage and empty the retirement account to stock up, right?! 😜 

[ha_banos]

1 hour ago, JohnS said:

Of course. However, you'd think if they had a choice they would love to have access nowadays to Cuban land to farm tobacco. Still, it hasn't stopped them finding success elsewhere.

I wonder if/when the Cuban government collapses they'll go marching in?

[Monterey]

6 hours ago, SCgarman said:

Life goes on. The sun will still rise in the east and set in the west. Cuban cigars are not food, water or shelter. Not essential for life. And Padron '64's are an appropriate substitute. At least for my needs. YMMV

I was getting worried. It's been like 3 weeks since you mentioned the almighty Padron 64's! 

[SCgarman]

2 hours ago, Chitmo said:

So what I’m hearing is that I should risk my marriage and empty the retirement account to stock up, right?! 😜 

I'm risking mine. I'm going to move in an attractive young Cuban lady who needs a nice home, fancy clothes and good food. In return she will be my FWB. Should be interesting to see how the wife "adjusts". 🤣

[BoliDan]

Everyone's always been waiting for an uprising, but now of all times Russia or China would likely gladly come around and be the financial white knight for a stake of land 90 miles away from Florida. Which they already have, but its going to be a more sticky situation in our current climate for sure.

[BrightonCorgi]

When will the rich exiles go back to dig up their treasure hidden when they left Cuba?

[JohnnyO]

Hurricane Rafael on its way to Pinar. More scheduled power outages coming. Many families will lose all of their food again. But at least they know in advance. John

[Rhinoww]

Friend of mine was supposed to go in a trip sponsored by the NY State Bar Assn to leave in the next few days. It was just cancelled (by the Cuban side) due to expectations that Havana will be a mess and without power this week.

Just another data point but things must really suck as this trip would have been some solid revenue for Cuba. 

[ha_banos]

On 10/29/2024 at 5:32 PM, VeguerosMAN said:

Perhaps there is a method to this madness. What if the Cuban government wants all of their citizens to leave the island and replace them with foreign citizens and investors? If that's the case, Padron or Fuente can buy tobacco farms in Cuba pennies on the dollar. 

They will be replaced with Elonbots! Dont need food or water! And run on Solar Panel cells and Starlink!

[LizardGizmo]

Entire electrical system is offline in Cuba once again. This time driven by the hurricane. A reminder to all of us outside Cuba of how good we all have it - especially today.