This Wednesday, state-run Canal Caribe aired a feature on the Manzanillo electric transformer factory in Granma province, highlighting it as the regime's answer to Cuba's crippling energy crisis.
The official media outlet labeled the facility as an "industrial pillar" of eastern Cuba, despite frequent blackouts in the area lasting between 20 and 24 hours daily.
This unique plant in the eastern region is responsible for repairing transformer breakdowns in provinces from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo.
According to the report, the plant refurbishes between 70 and 100 transformers monthly, reusing 80% to 90% of components from each damaged unit.
"We average between 70 and 100 transformers monthly. This depends on the number of transformers brought to us, the amount that gets damaged, and based on this, we can incorporate them into production and release them as new," explained a plant executive on the state channel.
The factory operates under a technological recycling scheme that, according to its managers, saves up to three times the cost of purchasing a new transformer.
By mid-2026, the plant had refurbished 242 transformers, achieving 72% of its annual target, with only 44 units remaining to meet the program's goal, as confirmed by its director, Ángel García Elíes, to Radio Bayamo.
The official report emphasized the "sense of belonging" among a predominantly young workforce.
"Through their daily innovation, ideas, and solutions, they manage to produce one more transformer, addressing the severe and challenging situation we face," acknowledged one of the directors, marking a rare admission of the crisis's severity in the broadcast.
However, the report failed to mention the significant gap between production and the country's actual needs.
In June 2026, the Electric Union admitted no provinces had available transformer parts.
Holguín reported 25 damaged units against only six available replacements, while in Sancti Spíritus, around 60 transformers were out of service.
In July 2026, the power generation deficit reached 2,130 MW against a demand of 3,150 MW, with only 1,000 to 1,155 MW available.
Cuba has endured five total blackouts of the national power system so far in 2026, the latest on July 14, caused by the shutdown of Unit 1 at the Felton thermoelectric plant in Holguín.
The national plan for 2026 aims to produce 10,000 transformers across the country's three specialized workshops: the Latino factory in Havana, responsible for 8,000 new units, and the plants in Villa Clara and Manzanillo, tasked with refurbishing 2,000.
In 2025, the recovery program reportedly saved nearly 20 million dollars, according to Radio Bayamo's investigative dossier.
Independent experts caution, however, that fully restoring Cuba's electrical system would require between eight to ten billion dollars and three to five years of work, a scale that no recycling plant, no matter how efficient, can meet alone.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Transformer Production
What is the role of the Manzanillo transformer factory in Cuba's energy crisis?
The Manzanillo transformer factory is highlighted as a critical element in Cuba's response to its energy crisis by refurbishing damaged transformers and supporting the electrical network in eastern provinces.
How does the transformer factory contribute to cost savings?
The factory's recycling process allows it to save up to three times the cost of purchasing a new transformer by refurbishing existing units and reusing components.
What challenges does Cuba face in restoring its electrical system?
Cuba faces a significant challenge in restoring its electrical system, requiring an estimated eight to ten billion dollars and several years of work, a scale that current facilities cannot achieve alone.