HAVANA, Cuba, Dec 5 (ACN) Vicente de la O Levy, Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, confirmed that 2026 will present a slightly improved situation regarding the stability of the National Electric System (SEN), thanks to the incorporation of four thermoelectric units and 1,000 megawatts of renewable energy, although fuel shortages will persist.
The Cespedes 3, Rente 5, Cespedes 4, and Este Habana 2 units completed major maintenance in 2025.
The latter two will be synchronized in December and will operate from January with additional stable power, he stated in an interview with the Granma newspaper.
The minister explained that in 2025, thermal capacities that had been absent for months were gradually recovered, while photovoltaic solar parks were incorporated, reaching peak levels where 30 % of the national generation came from renewable sources.
He added that the 1,000 megawatts of solar energy installed this year will be available from January 1, 2026, and that this figure is expected to increase during the next fiscal year, in coordination with the Herradura 1 wind farm.
De la O Levy highlighted that during Hurricane Melissa, provinces like Guantánamo and Granma were able to operate as an “energy island” thanks to distributed generation, which prompted a rethinking of the regional design of the electrical system.
However, he pointed out that the main obstacle at present is not technical, but financial: “We have more than 3,200 MW technically available, but blackouts persist because we lack fuel to power the distributed generation, which today has more than 1,000 MW inactive for that reason.”
The minister emphasized that the country maintains an availability of over 80 % in emergency generator sets, which allowed it to guarantee vital services for more than a month in areas affected by the storm.
He acknowledged that the Economic Plan anticipates a decrease in the impact of the blackouts in 2026 compared to 2025, but warned that blackouts will not be eliminated, as fuel allocations do not cover actual needs and scheduled shutdowns will continue at thermoelectric plants such as Guiteras and Felton.
Regarding Felton 2, he reported that a financial avenue using national resources has been identified to complete its reconstruction, which is included in the national strategy through 2030, which also envisions new units in Nuevitas and Mariel.
In terms of logistics, he noted that the rehabilitation of the supertanker base in Matanzas is progressing, a key element for streamlining the national distribution of fuels, and its completion is part of the Government Program. Finally, he expressed his gratitude for international cooperation, particularly Vietnam's donation of four 20 MW solar parks and China's delivery of 5,000 photovoltaic systems for homes following Hurricane Melissa.
“2025 was a very tense year, with the worst fuel shortage we’ve ever had, and 2026 will be difficult, although with better conditions.
It’s the beginning of the energy transformation, but there’s still a long way to go,” he concluded.
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