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Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced that the Turkish floating power plant Cankuthan Bey, which arrived in Havana Bay on December 8, is not part of its contract with the Turkish company Karpowership and that it will "leave Cuba" once the startup work on its units is completed.
"The kps56 barge (Cankuthan Bey) arrived in Havana on Sunday, December 8, to initiate the commissioning of its units, and once this is completed, it will leave Cuba. This floating plant is not part of the contract between UNE and the Turkish company Karen Dis Ticaret," the UNE stated on its social media.
The official statement seemed aimed at denying previous reports that linked his arrival to the urgent need to alleviate the severe energy crisis facing the island, which this Saturday is expected to experience yet another day of significant and widespread blackouts, forecasted at nearly 1,200 MW.
The Cankuthan Bey, with a generation capacity of 80 MW, has temporarily joined the other five operational floating power plants in Cuba. Its arrival was initially explained on social media as an attempt to alleviate the constant blackouts affecting the country, where the daily energy deficit exceeds 1,500 MW.
However, the clarification from UNE has raised more questions than answers, particularly regarding the terms of the negotiation with Karpowership.
A history of energy dependencies and secrecy
Since 2019, Cuba has received eight Turkish floating power plants, of which six are currently in operation: three in Havana (Belgin Sultan, Suheyla Sultan, and Erol Bay), one in Mariel (Ela Sultan), another in Santiago de Cuba (Erin Sultan), and for now, the Cankuthan Bey.
However, the Cuban regime has maintained complete secrecy regarding the costs and terms of these contracts, despite their financial implications.
As a point of reference, in Ecuador, a floating plant of 100 MW cost more than 114 million dollars for 18 months of operation, while in the Dominican Republic, two barges of 180 MW incurred an expense of 40 million over 42 months.
These circumstances suggest multimillion-dollar costs that Cuba would likely struggle to bear without external financial support or through opaque agreements signed with Turkish authorities, the terms of which remain unknown to a civil society constrained in its ability to demand accountability from its leaders.
Controversies and operational risks
The operation of these floating power plants has not been without incidents. On September 26, a fire on the vessel Belgin Sultan left eight people injured, two of whom were Turkish technicians who lost their lives. Despite these issues, the regime continues to rely on this temporary and costly solution to alleviate its energy crisis.
The arrival of Cankuthan Bey raises many unanswered questions, particularly regarding the transparency of the agreements with Karpowership and the long-term financial impact on Cuba, a country mired in a deep economic crisis and facing an energy system on the brink of collapse.
The arrival of the Turkish floating power plant Cankuthan Bey in Havana Bay has sparked various speculations regarding its purpose and duration in Cuba.
Since 2019, Karpowership has delivered floating power plants to Cuba, reaching a total of eight units at different times. Currently, six remain operational: three in Havana (Belgin Sultan, Suheyla Sultan, and Erol Bay), one in Mariel (Ela Sultan), and another in Santiago de Cuba (Erin Sultan).
The Electric Union (UNE) clarified that this unit is not part of the current contract with the Turkish company Karpowership and that after completing the startup work for its units, it will leave the country.
The energy crisis in Cuba has worsened in recent years due to a lack of investment and maintenance in thermal power plants, many of which have been in operation for over forty years. The dependence on fossil fuels, particularly Cuban heavy crude oil, has contributed to the deterioration of the national electrical system.
The arrival of Cankuthan Bey comes in a context of frequent blackouts and social discontent. While its presence may provide temporary relief, a long-term solution requires significant investments and structural changes in the Cuban energy sector.
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