The photovoltaic solar park "La Carolina" was inaugurated - complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony - in Ciego de Ávila during an event led by the commander of the revolution Ramiro Valdés, the Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy, and officials from the Communist Party and the provincial government.
Presented on Facebook by the Unión Eléctrica as a step to strengthen the renewable energy matrix of the territory, the event took place while Cuba is experiencing a severe energy crisis, with power outages widespread throughout the country, fuel shortages and a population increasingly suffocated by the rate hike from ETECSA, rising food prices, and lack of medications.
An inauguration amid the general blackout
The Cuban regime continues to promote renewable energy projects amid one of the worst energy crises in recent decades.
The inauguration of the solar park "La Carolina" is part of a series of recent openings of photovoltaic infrastructures in several provinces across the country, through which the government aims to project an image of progress despite the structural collapse of the electrical system.
However, the daily reality for millions of Cubans is completely different: prolonged blackouts, sometimes lasting over 12 hours, affect all provinces of the country. The thermoelectric plants are in precarious conditions, fuel imports are insufficient, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep basic services running.
A population on the brink
This landscape of literal and figurative darkness is compounded by the chronic shortage of medicines and food, with prices continuing to rise in a market distorted by partial dollarization and state inefficiency.
In this context, the recent rate hike by ETECSA has further fueled public discontent, by imposing new economic burdens on an already strained population.
The government, far from offering relief, sticks to the same script: it urges the people to understand, resist, and be patient. In recent weeks, Díaz-Canel himself has insisted that these are necessary measures to prevent "technological collapse," and that the people must embrace them as part of their "duty to society."
Technology without well-being
The opening of the "La Carolina" park was presented as a step towards energy sovereignty and the diversification of clean sources. However, in practice, these specific developments do not address the root of the crisis nor provide tangible relief to the majority of the population.
The official discourse focuses on symbolic displays of progress, while in the streets discontent, exhaustion, and a sense of neglect are growing.
Frequently asked questions about the inauguration of the solar park "La Carolina" in Cuba
What is the "La Carolina" solar park and what is its purpose?
The "La Carolina" solar park is a photovoltaic installation inaugurated in Ciego de Ávila, Cuba, aimed at strengthening the renewable energy matrix of the region. This project is part of a recent series of openings of photovoltaic infrastructures in the country, as the government seeks to project an image of progress amid a serious energy crisis.
How does the current energy crisis affect Cubans?
The energy crisis in Cuba is characterized by prolonged blackouts that affect all provinces of the country. The population is facing a shortage of fuel, thermal power plants in precarious conditions, and a collapsed electrical system. This situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of food, medicine, and a recent increase in ETECSA tariffs, which heightens public discontent.
What is the energy capacity of the "La Carolina" solar park and other similar projects?
The "La Carolina" solar park adds to other renewable energy projects in Cuba, such as the 21.8 megawatt solar park in Ciego de Ávila and others recently inaugurated in various provinces. However, the capacity of these parks is insufficient to address the national energy deficit, which sometimes exceeds 1,500 megawatts due to a lack of fuel and the poor condition of the thermal power plants.
What limitations do solar parks face in Cuba?
Solar parks in Cuba face the significant limitation of a lack of batteries to store the generated electricity, which means that solar energy can only be used in real time during the day. This prevents meeting nighttime demand, when consumption is at its highest, and significantly limits the impact of these projects on the energy crisis.
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