Cuban Government's Ambitious Plan to Generate 600 MW of Solar Power by Mid-2025

Amidst an unprecedented energy crisis, the Cuban government has unveiled an ambitious plan aiming to produce nearly 600 MW of solar photovoltaic energy by the first half of 2025. This announcement was made on Tuesday during a session of the Industry, Construction, and Energy Commission of the National Assembly of People’s Power (ANPP), led by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy.

De la O Levy outlined that the strategy involves the monthly synchronization of five solar parks, each with an average capacity of 21 MW. Based on these projections, the total generation would reach approximately 590 MW by mid-next year. "In February, we have two parks integrated; six more in March. On average, we will synchronize five solar photovoltaic parks each month. If we multiply that by the capacity of each park, which is 21 MW, we are looking at synchronizing about 590 MW in the first half," De la O Levy stated to Cuban Television News (NTV).

The Energy Minister also discussed plans to enhance thermal and distributed generation, both plagued by frequent blackouts on the island. The Felton 2 thermal unit, one of the most critical plants, is currently undergoing repairs following a fire incident in July 2022. "The dismantling process of that boiler was a complete engineering feat. Everything was dismantled as it should be. Currently, we are resolving issues and have received steel metal levels in Cuba to produce with our engineering and industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Metallurgical Industry," De la O Levy elaborated, celebrating the expected completion of this operation by late 2024, which began in August 2022.

Beyond promises of gradually reducing blackouts, the minister assured that by the end of 2025, there is an anticipated "significant recovery" that could stabilize the electrical supply by 2026. "The disruptions, averaging 1,400 to 1,500 MW, will decrease considerably and progressively through the end of next year. We assert that we will face or begin 2026 with a substantial and considerable recovery to move forward," asserted the MINEM head.

As expected, lawmakers present endorsed the government's plans. Deputy Angélica María Chorens Fernández emphasized that "the recovery of the national electro-energy system (SEN) is a priority not only to improve the people's quality of life but to boost the country's economic and social development." Similarly, Deputy Dayana Beira Fernández emphasized the need for patience and trust in the continuity government under Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Despite official declarations, doubts linger regarding the feasibility of the project due to inadequate financing, lack of technology, and the structural deterioration of Cuba's energy system. Independent experts have pointed out that previous plans in the electricity sector have failed due to poor management and reliance on foreign technologies that are challenging to maintain.

Promises of Vicente and Public Skepticism

Vicente de la O Levy has made numerous promises concerning the improvement of the SEN, many of which have yet to be fulfilled. In September, De la O Levy announced the operation of two 21 MW solar photovoltaic parks as part of a larger 2,000 MW project aimed at achieving "energy sovereignty." Additionally, he assured that by 2025, the government would manage to generate at least a minute of electricity without relying on imported fuel, a claim met with public criticism and skepticism.

The lack of tangible results and ongoing electrical issues have led to questions about the effectiveness of the implemented strategies and the government's ability to ensure a stable and reliable electrical supply. In this context, the recent announcement to generate nearly 600 MW of solar energy in the first half of 2025 faces skepticism from a population that has heard similar promises in the past without seeing significant improvements.