Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Déborah Rivas Saavedra speaks at the inauguration event of the seventh photovoltaic solar park resulting from China-Cuba cooperation. Photo: X/@PresidenciaCuba.
The First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, attended the inauguration of the seventh photovoltaic solar park of the 120 MW project donated by the Chinese Party, Government, and people.
Guanajay, Artemisa – “China’s cooperation with Cuba in the energy sector remains strong and steady, from ongoing projects, such as equipment and spare parts for distributed generation, the 5,000 photovoltaic systems for isolated homes, and the installation of other solar photovoltaic parks (PSFV) with a total capacity of 85 MW, to the next project to install another 200 MW and the new 5,000 photovoltaic systems for isolated homes.”
This was stated by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the island, Hua Xin, during the inauguration in Guanajay, Artemisa, of the seventh 5 MW PSFV of the first stage of a donation from the Party, the Government, and the people of the sister country, which will add 120 MW to the National Electric System (SEN).
The official launch of Mártires de Barbados II was led by the First Secretary of the Party’s Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, and it is now connected to the SEN, as are its 5 MW counterparts built in several provinces, with a combined generation capacity of 35 MW.
Following the completion of this phase, the second stage, already underway, is expected to be completed by next April and will include 13 5 MW PSFV and two 10 MW PSFV, with a total power of 85 MW and batteries to store 20% of the generation produced.
“Each of these steps,” said the diplomat, “demonstrates China’s commitment to Cuba’s sustainable development. In the future,” he confirmed, “our country is willing to continue strengthening this cooperation, thus contributing to the construction of the China-Cuba community with a shared future.”
When describing the benefits of the seven new PSFV units, as the first stage of the donation, Hua Xin commented that they will save around 18,000 tons of imported fuel annually.
“From the signing of the project exchange of notes, the arrival of the first batch of equipment, to the full connection to the grid today, the efficient collaboration between Chinese and Cuban companies has achieved impressive speed, marking a new stage in the collaboration between the two countries in the field of clean energy,” said the representative of the Asian giant.
“And the strategic significance of this project,” he added, “is profound. At the social level, it will provide the population with a clean, stable, and reliable electricity supply, thus improving their well-being. At the economic level, the savings in foreign currency will boost Cuba’s economic recovery. And at the environmental level, the annual reduction in carbon emissions will contribute to global climate governance.”
Also participating in the inauguration of the PSFV Mártires de Barbados II were Gladys Martínez Verdecia, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Provincial Party Committee in Artemisa; Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, deputy prime minister and minister of Foreign Trade and Investment; and Gerardo Peñalver Portal, first deputy minister of Foreign Affairs, among other dignitaries.
On the Cuban side, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment Déborah Rivas Saavedra conveyed “on behalf of the Cuban government, party, and people, the deepest and most sincere gratitude to the government of the People’s Republic of China, the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange for their arduous efforts to execute this project in the shortest time possible.”
She praised the Chinese authorities for giving the initiative “emergency treatment in order to support our country in the complex situation facing the National Electric System,” as well as the technical collaboration between the Chinese and Cuban institutions that participated.
She recalled that the PSFV Mártires de Barbados II was built in record time after supplies arrived last July. Like the other six 5 MW plants, it will contribute an estimated 8,000 MWh, for a total of 56,000 MWh per year, which will help reduce service disruptions during daytime hours and increase installed electricity generation capacity.
Highlighting the contribution of this donation to the transformation of the national energy matrix by increasing the use of renewable and clean energies, the Deputy Minister of Mincex emphasized its environmental impact, which “will be significant, as a total of 49,280 tons of carbon dioxide will no longer be emitted into the atmosphere.” In addition, it will contribute to the national effort to achieve energy sovereignty and independence.
ALBA Assists Cuba in Recovery from Damage Caused by Hurricane Melissa
Rivas Saavedra reported that, following the completion of the first 35 MW stage, with seven 5 MW PSFV units, rapid progress is being made on the second phase of the project, involving a further 85 MW.
She argued that to this end, “the first supplies have arrived in the country and the rest will be received before the end of this year, which will allow for its construction and commissioning in the first quarter of 2026.”
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment reiterated her gratitude “for the systematic gestures of support from the People’s Republic of China to Cuba at this complex time we are facing, in particular the cooperation in the energy sector.”
She also thanked “the Chinese government for its prompt response in offering its solidarity and assistance in recovering from the damage caused by Hurricane Melissa, with donations of food, galvanized steel coils for the production of roofing for homes, mattresses, solar lights, among other items, which will benefit those affected in the eastern provinces.”
“All these signs of cooperation from the Chinese government,” she said, “confirm the special nature of our ties and are a practical expression of the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Cuba.”
(Granma) by René Tamayo León
