The ice cream parlor Coppelia "Strawberry and Chocolate" in the city of Trinidad, in the province of Sancti Spíritus, has reopened its doors thanks to the installation of a photovoltaic energy module financed through partnerships with the private sector, as reported by the official telecenter Centrovisión.
The report, written by journalist Ana Martha Panadés, describes how the state-owned establishment was able to resume its services through "linkages with non-state management forms," specifically the involvement of private micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that provided the necessary solar technology to keep the refrigerators operational during the frequent blackouts affecting the Island.
The menu visible in the establishment includes ice cream balls for 80 Cuban pesos, mango juices for 30 pesos, and soft drinks for 20 pesos, with flavors such as orange and pineapple available for customers.
The case of Trinidad is part of a trend observed in several Cuban provinces: the restoration of iconic state facilities through private investment and solar energy, in response to the collapse of the national electrical system and chronic shortages of supplies.
The Coppelia in the provincial capital, the city of Sancti Spíritus, reopened on June 3, 2026 after years of nearly total inactivity, also through a partnership between a small and medium-sized enterprise from Ciego de Ávila and the UEB Complejo Mar y Cielo, featuring solar panels and batteries for refrigeration.
However, that reopening was not without criticism. Customers reported crystallized ice cream, small portions, and prices that many considered excessive: 125 pesos for one scoop and 250 pesos for two scoops.
"I felt like I had thrown away 250 Cuban pesos," was one of the complaints registered by customers of Coppelia in the capital of Sancti Spíritus just days after its reopening.
The Coppelia ice cream chain, founded in 1966 and regarded as a cultural symbol of Cuba, has experienced progressive deterioration across the Island due to the economic crisis, power outages, and shortages of milk, sugar, and essential supplies.
The Havana location, the most emblematic in the country, reopened in February 2025 with reduced capacity after consecutive closures due to leaks and electrical issues, while the Santa Clara location was still undergoing restoration this month.
The Cuban government has promoted incentives in 2026 to attract private investment in renewable energy, including tariff exemptions for importing panels, batteries, and inverters, as well as up to eight years of tax exemption for those who install photovoltaic systems. Decree 107 also allows small and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) to sell energy to the national electrical grid.
However, the results in Trinidad have not always been consistent: according to a report from June 2026, the solar panels promised for the ecomobiles and the charging station for Taxis Cuba in that same city were never implemented, highlighting the contradictions of an energy transition process that is advancing unevenly.
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