The city of Santa Clara is preparing to inaugurate its third "solinera" in the Sandino neighborhood, a solar-powered charging station that will provide free cooking services and device recharging to over 100 families affected by power outages of up to five consecutive days.
The opening is scheduled for July 24, on the eve of July 26, reported the provincial broadcaster CMHW on Friday.
The project is led by Leandro Prada Santana, manager of the private mipyme Leos, and will feature 18 solar panels, 12 kW of installed power, and 20 kW of battery backup.
"We want it to be completed by the 24th and inaugurate it in commemoration of July 26th, as our province has been highlighted for this date," emphasized Prada.
The facility will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and will not charge anything for food preparation, mobile phone recharging, or the use of fans, unlike other places in the country that do impose fees.
The Sandino neighborhood is one of the areas most affected by the electric crisis in Villa Clara. Starting from July 7, its residents endured over 112 consecutive hours without electricity (more than five days), which also left them without running water due to reliance on electric turbine pumping.
The architect Osmel Pino Núñez, responsible for the design and execution of the project, noted that the space will go far beyond providing energy.
"Our ultimate goal is to provide service to the community. We will create a café in the area, along with spaces featuring benches, lighting, landscaping, recreational zones, and sports courts for children. The intention is to transform the environment, and we hope that the community will embrace and support this initiative," he stated.
The work is progressing with the participation of workers from the small and medium-sized enterprise Leos, neighborhood residents, and local businesses. Rubble has already been cleared, and soccer and basketball courts have been set up, which the children in the area have begun to use.
"I feel very happy and very grateful to the neighbors, who have supported the work we are doing because they know it will benefit the community," concluded Prada.
This will be the third solinera in Santa Clara, a city that became a pioneer of the phenomenon when it inaugurated the first one in the country in April 2026 in the Virginia popular council, built in just nine days from the ground up.
The model has spread across the island. Announcements in the official press indicate that Matanzas plans to establish nine points of this type, while Havana will set one up in the heart of Vedado.
In June, Holguín inaugurated El Girasol, a pioneering solar charging station in eastern Cuba, although this venture generated controversy due to rates that range from 50 to 500 CUP per hour compared to an average state salary of 6,930 CUP per month.
The proliferation of solar power stations reflects the collapse of the National Electric System, which has experienced eight total blackouts in 18 months and reported a generation deficit of 2,130 MW in July against a demand of 3,150 MW. This situation has worsened since January when Venezuela suspended oil shipments and Mexico cut its oil exports due to the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
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