The Cuban regime has once again promised an improvement in the national energy crisis, this time betting on gas as the solution for 2026.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, stated in comments to state television that the country expects to start next year with a “higher level” of gas production and electricity generation.
According to a report from the Cuban News Channel, the official acknowledged that gas production—intended for electricity generation and cooking food in Havana—has declined in recent years due to lack of financing. However, he again blamed the U.S. embargo for preventing the country from accessing international credit sources.
"We are going to start 2026 with gas production exceeding that of 2025, which gradually increased throughout the year," the official stated, without providing specific figures or detailing how the supposed increase would be financed.
The minister also acknowledged that national crude oil production and the operation of thermal power plants continue to fall short of demand, despite announcements of "recovery" in the sector.
In his speech, he justified the decision to postpone maintenance on the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas, due to the poor technical condition of the Felton plant in Holguín, one of the most important within the national electroenergy system.
He also explained that removing both of the "most powerful units in the country" at the same time would be "unsustainable," so the maintenance of Guiteras will take place over a short period in early 2026, with the hope that it can withstand the summer.
However, he acknowledged that Felton remains unstable and may require an extended shutdown, which would further exacerbate the blackouts.
The Energy official defended that the regime "has not stopped working" on projects to repair Felton 2, build new units in Nuevitas and Mariel, and replace boilers, although he admitted that investments are slow and depend on scarce resources and agreements with "friendly countries."
While the government insists on attributing the blackouts to the embargo and a lack of external financing, the population continues to face power outages of up to 10 hours a day, shortages of domestic gas, and an energy bill that does not reflect the reality of their wages.
The official push for gas, presented as "strategic," reflects more of a survival necessity than a sustainable solution.
With an obsolete thermoelectric network, deteriorating refineries, and lacking the liquidity to import fuel, the regime is trying to buy time by promising an energy revival that lacks both technical and financial support.
In a country shrouded in darkness and discontent, the promise of more gas by 2026 sounds as fragile as the flame that many Cubans attempt to keep alive in their kitchens.
The regime's promises of a supposed improvement in gas production by 2026 contrast sharply with its own public acknowledgments of the energy collapse the country is experiencing.
Electricity sector officials have openly admitted that blackouts will continue, stating that next year "will be tough" and that there will not be enough capacity to meet the national demand for electricity.
Despite the announcements of increases in liquefied gas production, Minister Vicente de la O Levy himself acknowledged on state television that investments in generation still depend on agreements with "friendly countries" and that the maintenance of key plants such as Guiteras and Felton is at risk.
The alleged energy strategy lacks technical and financial support, as the crisis continues to impact households.
Even from an economic perspective, the official outlook is not very encouraging. The government has already indicated that 2026 will be a difficult year, and that the state's ability to respond will be constrained by a lack of income, low domestic productivity, and accumulated structural problems.
These messages, far from instilling confidence, confirm the extension of a crisis that affects all essential areas of life in Cuba.
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