On Monday, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel made a visit to the "Granma" Military Industrial Enterprise, situated in the Regla district of Havana. The regime labeled this visit as a "working tour," themed under "The Philosophy of Good Practice."
The visit, as reported by the Presidencia Cuba website, was accompanied by two of the regime's most influential military figures: General Álvaro López Miera, the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), and General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, the Minister of the Interior. Both are members of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba.
Captain Lázaro Raúl Hernández Gómez, who directs the enterprise, explained that its official purpose is "the maintenance, restoration, and assurance of the combat readiness of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Navy."
However, the current production of this military enterprise exposes the depths of Cuba's collapse: charcoal, sawdust, and wood stoves distributed across the island due to the lack of gas and electricity, along with water trucks, fuel tanks, and household items.
Production Lines Reflect Economic Struggles
The entity boasts 19 production units and 686 workers, and according to its director, it achieved its sales plan by 2025. Their work also includes making floating docks, modernizing fishing vessels, and repairing electric motors ranging from five to 500 kilowatts.
Notably, the director highlighted the repair of Chinese locomotive electric motors, which previously required overseas repairs but are now serviced within the company.
Economic Crisis Overshadows Military Intentions
This visit occurs amid an unprecedented economic crisis in Cuba: the GDP has declined by 23% cumulatively since 2019, power outages last up to 20 hours daily, and over nine million Cubans cook under precarious conditions using wood and charcoal.
The fact that a company originally intended to support the combat capacity of the FAR is now compelled to produce wood stoves for the populace exemplifies the extent of the civil production collapse on the island.
The "Granma" Military Industrial Enterprise is part of the network of companies linked to GAESA, a military conglomerate that controls nearly 40% of the Cuban economy without public accountability.
International Sanctions and Domestic Justifications
General Álvaro López Miera, who accompanied Díaz-Canel on the visit, has been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury since July 2021 for his role in repressing the July 11th protests of that year.
The regime's official media defended the visit, claiming it is a tradition for the country's leadership to visit military industrial enterprises, describing them as hubs that "support a philosophy of intelligent resistance whose value increases, especially now, given the demands of a society in urgent need of good practice."
While the regime praises a military factory for producing wood stoves, 80% of Cubans believe the current crisis is worse than the Special Period of the 1990s, according to data from March 2026.
Cuba's Economic and Military Challenges
Why is the Granma Military Industrial Enterprise producing household items?
Due to severe shortages of gas and electricity, the enterprise has been forced to produce alternative items like charcoal and wood stoves to meet the basic needs of the population.
What role does GAESA play in Cuba's economy?
GAESA is a military conglomerate that exerts control over around 40% of the Cuban economy, operating with little to no public transparency.
What economic challenges is Cuba facing?
Cuba is dealing with a significant economic crisis, having experienced a 23% GDP decline since 2019, frequent power outages, and widespread shortages of basic resources.