The Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines announced on Monday that two Turkish power barges currently stationed on the island are scheduled to begin generating electricity in the latter half of April. This will occur once the Russian fuel, which arrived at the end of March, is ready for use.
"At present, two power barges, Belgin Sultán and Erol Bay, remain in Cuba, with an installed capacity of 124 MW. No additional barges have been added recently. Following the arrival of the Russian fuel, they will start generating power in the second half of this month," stated the ministry on its social media platforms.
Arrival of Russian Oil
The fuel was transported by the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, which docked at the port of Matanzas in late March carrying around 730,000 barrels of crude oil, equivalent to 100,000 metric tons. The unloading process took 96 hours to complete.
State-owned company CUPET explained that this fuel will be prioritized for distributed power generation, the Mariel and Moa power plants, essential services, and the production of fuel oil for the barges themselves. Since January 2026, Cuba had not received regular oil shipments, further exacerbating the already weakened national electrical system.
The Kremlin acknowledged that the shipment was previously discussed with Washington before it was carried out. Russian spokesman Dmitri Peskov publicly defended the action on March 30, stating that Russia feels compelled to assist Cuba rather than remain indifferent.
Electricity System in Crisis
The announcement comes during a critical period for Cuba's electrical system. On Monday, the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant—the largest power generator in the country, contributing between 20% and 25% of the national thermal capacity—went offline from the National Electroenergetic System at 3:00 a.m. due to a boiler puncture, with an expected outage of 72 hours.
During the first week of April, power outages exceeded 1,600 MW daily, affecting the entire territory for 24 hours. The peak disruption occurred on April 1, reaching 1,945 MW at 7:50 p.m.
Recent SEN Data
The situation has not improved in early April. According to the official report from the National Electrical System (SEN), service remained disrupted throughout April 6 and continued into the morning of April 7. The maximum disruption reached 1,871 MW at 8:50 p.m.
By 6:00 a.m. on April 7, the system's availability was a mere 1,200 MW against a demand of 2,518 MW, causing a deficit of 1,337 MW. A similar disruption was anticipated for midday, around 1,250 MW.
Key incidents include malfunctions in Unit 2 of the Felton CTE and the Antonio Guiteras CTE itself, alongside maintenance in several plants: Unit 5 of Mariel, Units 3 and 6 of Renté, and Unit 5 of Nuevitas. Additionally, limitations in thermal generation have kept approximately 366 MW offline.
Peak Hour Forecast
For peak hours, authorities expect partial operation of the Energás Boca de Jaruco plant, contributing about 40 MW combined. Nevertheless, availability is projected to be only 1,240 MW against a maximum demand of 3,080 MW, leaving a shortfall of 1,840 MW and a predicted disruption close to 1,870 MW.
Meanwhile, renewable generation remains insufficient to offset the structural deficit. The 54 new photovoltaic solar parks produced 3,518 MWh, with a peak output of 514 MW during maximum sunlight, a contribution inadequate to alleviate the energy crisis.
In this context, the contribution of the two barges—124 MW combined—offers only a marginal improvement.
The shipment of 730,000 barrels is equivalent to just seven to ten days of the country's total consumption, which requires between 90,000 and 110,000 barrels daily to maintain its electrical system under normal conditions.
Reduction of Power Barge Fleet
Turkish power barges from Karpowership have been operating in Cuba since 2019 as a temporary solution to the electrical system crisis, caused by the deterioration of thermoelectric plants and chronic fuel shortages.
At their peak presence, Cuba operated up to eight barges with a combined output of more than 500 MW. The fleet has gradually diminished due to the Cuban government's inability to pay, until September 2025, when Minister Vicente de la O Levy publicly acknowledged that Cuba could only afford two units: specifically, Belgin Sultán and Erol Bay.
This Monday, the Cuban government also denied reports from Turkish media and analyst Falcon—based on tracking of automatic identification signals from vessels—suggesting the arrival of a new barge in Havana, ruling out any immediate expansion of the floating fleet.
FAQs on Cuban Energy Crisis and Russian Fuel Aid
Why are Turkish power barges significant for Cuba's energy supply?
Turkish power barges offer a temporary solution to Cuba's energy crisis, providing additional electricity capacity amidst the country's deteriorating thermoelectric plants and chronic fuel shortages.
What is the importance of the recent Russian oil shipment to Cuba?
The Russian oil shipment is crucial as it supplies fuel necessary for electricity generation, helping alleviate some of the immediate energy demands, although it's only a short-term relief given the country's daily consumption needs.
How is Cuba addressing its long-term energy crisis?
Cuba is attempting to address its energy crisis by incorporating renewable energy sources, such as solar parks, though these efforts have yet to fully offset the country's structural energy deficit.