An innovative entrepreneur in Holguín is working on an industrial plant prototype at the workshops of the Héroes del 26 de Julio Mechanical Company. This plant is designed to convert plastic waste into fuel, utilizing a reactor that functions at temperatures ranging from 400 to 500 degrees Celsius.
The project, named Pyralis, is spearheaded by Alejandro Ortiz Ávila, who employs the pyrolysis process. This method involves the thermal decomposition of materials in the absence of oxygen, enabling the extraction of hydrocarbons from waste, as reported by the state-run Canal Caribe.
Ortiz Ávila shared that the plant is currently in the assembly phase. "We are now finalizing the reactor's sealing, preparing to move on to the condensation phase," he explained.
The reactor, horizontally designed and constructed from recycled industrial materials, is the most prominent component of the prototype and will serve as the core of the thermo-chemical process.
Challenges of Industrial-Scale Pyrolysis
Addressing the complexities of industrial-scale pyrolysis, Ortiz Ávila was candid: "When it comes to industrial pyrolysis for producing usable fuels from plastics, it is indeed quite complex. This reactor operates without oxygen, reaching temperatures between 400 and 500 degrees, breaking down the material—in this case, plastic waste—into particles."
Project data indicates that processing 100 kilograms of plastic waste can yield up to 100 liters of pyrolytic oils, which can be refined into gasoline and diesel.
Potential Impact and Community Involvement
The initial plan for the produced fuel is to support essential services, such as ambulances, in a nation struggling to meet its daily requirement of 110,000 barrels of oil with a local production of just 40,000 barrels.
Pyralis represents the first tech-driven company cultivated from its inception at the Holguín Science, Technology, and Industrial Park, established in 2025. The park's president, DrC. Carlos Rafael Batista Matamoros, emphasized the project's significance: "This is applied science with a profound impact on both the social and market levels, establishing itself as a company."
Ortiz Ávila acknowledged the institution's crucial role: "The Science and Technology Park has been our constitutional support in every way, not only backing our plant assembly but also providing scientific personnel to validate our technology."
The project also includes setting up community collection points for plastic waste, with the first location planned at a former sugarcane mill in the Vista Alegre neighborhood of Holguín, along with an incentive system for neighborhoods with high collection rates.
Cuba produces over 40,000 tons of plastic waste annually, recycling only 10%. This poses a severe environmental challenge and a potential resource for initiatives like this.
Addressing Cuba's Energy Crisis
The project emerges amid the island's worst energy crisis in decades, with power generation deficits reaching 2,040 MW and blackouts affecting 64% of the population, exacerbated by the halt of Venezuelan shipments and reduced Mexican imports.
Before offering concrete solutions, Pyralis must undergo testing phases, certify the quality of the produced fuels, and assess industrial scaling possibilities. These steps are crucial to determining whether the initiative can provide a viable answer to Cuba's fuel crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pyralis and Plastic Waste Conversion
What is the main goal of the Pyralis project in Holguín?
The primary aim of the Pyralis project is to convert plastic waste into fuel using a reactor that functions at temperatures between 400 and 500 degrees Celsius, potentially alleviating Cuba's energy crisis.
How does pyrolysis work in the context of the Pyralis project?
Pyrolysis in the Pyralis project involves the thermal decomposition of plastic waste in the absence of oxygen, breaking it down into hydrocarbons that can be refined into fuels like gasoline and diesel.
What challenges does the Pyralis project face in scaling up?
The Pyralis project must navigate testing phases, certify fuel quality, and evaluate industrial scaling to ensure its viability in providing a sustainable solution to Cuba's fuel shortages.