Amidst Cuba's most severe energy crisis in recent memory, the regime once again donned the mantle of savior by announcing the installation of solar panels in mountainous communities in Guantánamo, including Los Naranjos, situated nearly 800 meters above sea level. What the Communist Party of Cuba's (PCC) official newspaper, Granma, hailed as a technical and social triumph is, in reality, a stark illustration of the accumulated failures of the "revolutionary project."
In a piece entitled "Where the Sun Shines at Night," state journalist José Llamos Camejo reveled in the accounts of rural residents who expressed gratitude to the sun for now powering lamps and televisions, as if electricity were a state-gifted luxury rather than a basic right that should have been ensured decades ago. This raises an inevitable question: Was there no electricity in these areas before the recent installations? According to Llamos Camejo's own interviews, the answer is no. Previously, only broken solar devices without batteries were available. Today, life is changing with the arrival of "solar modules." But why did it take so long?
A historical paradox is hard to overlook: Past articles in Granma portrayed the people of Los Naranjos as fervent supporters of Fidel Castro and as beneficiaries of the revolution's promises since 1959. Yet, the PCC's mouthpiece admitted this Sunday, unabashedly, that they never had stable access to electricity. What kind of "transformation" takes over six decades without providing the most basic needs?
This action is part of a governmental campaign to tout the transition to renewable energy as a revolutionary virtue, without acknowledging the real impetus: the National Electric System's inability to supply the population, plagued by frequent blackouts and a crumbling thermoelectric infrastructure. Discussing solar panels in 2025 seems more like survivalist propaganda than a coherent energy policy. According to Granma's own figures, 625 modules will be installed this year in Guantánamo, a number that barely scratches the surface of the country's actual needs.
The label of renewable energy in state media has become a narrative balm, a way to mask governmental incompetence and incapacity, as well as the structural decay of the national electric system, with the rhetoric of sustainability. The installation of solar panels in places like Los Naranjos is not a sign of progress but the clearest symptom of a historical debt the regime attempts to settle with belated gestures and recycled speeches. What should be a starting point for a dignified life turns into a propaganda banner.
The question lingers: How did these communities survive six decades without electricity? And even more troubling: How can what exposes a failure be presented as a victory?
Exploring Solar Energy in Cuban Communities
Why is the installation of solar panels in Los Naranjos significant?
The installation of solar panels in Los Naranjos is significant as it highlights the Cuban regime's attempt to address long-standing energy deficiencies in mountainous communities, albeit belatedly. It underscores the government's shift towards renewable energy amidst a failing national electric system.
What challenges does Cuba face regarding its national electric system?
Cuba's national electric system is struggling with frequent blackouts and an outdated thermoelectric infrastructure, which cannot adequately meet the population's needs. This has prompted the government to pivot towards renewable energy solutions like solar power.
How have residents of Los Naranjos managed without stable electricity for decades?
Residents of Los Naranjos have coped with limited electricity access, relying on broken solar devices without batteries until recently. The lack of stable electricity has been a longstanding issue that is only now being addressed with new solar installations.