The Cuban Ministry of Energy and Mines acknowledged on Wednesday that dust emissions at the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara plant in Moa, Holguín, have surpassed legal limits. The ministry attributed the incident to a planned shutdown and technical failures in the environmental control systems.
An official statement shared on Facebook explained that the situation arose following an industrial halt on July 7, intended for cleaning and minor repairs on the plant's gas ducts. Although the permit granted was for 48 hours, the tasks were completed in 24. Nonetheless, the deterioration of electrostatic precipitators, crucial for controlling particulate emissions, led to increased pollution, according to the official notice. The company operates under Law No. 150 "On Natural Resources and the Environment" and claims to have followed the required protocols, including seeking a special permit from environmental authorities, though the reality seems to diverge from the official narrative.
The ministry reported that urgent repairs are underway, and contingency protocols have been activated in collaboration with CITMA and local authorities to mitigate the impact on residents. Among the measures highlighted by the Cuban regime are the installation of air monitoring stations, the use of baghouse filters to reduce previous emissions, and reforestation of exploited areas. Partnerships with Canada for clean energy and environmental mitigation technologies were also mentioned.
Despite the Ministry's reiterated commitment to "responsible and sustainable" mining in Moa, ensuring transparency and continuous improvements, the unannounced incident contradicts this official discourse. The official statement emphasized, "Moa exemplifies the balance between industrial production and sustainability, adhering to Law 155 and its regulations," amid a flood of social media criticism over the severe pollution.
Hours before the Ministry's statement, some official journalists demanded explanations from Cubaníquel following contamination reports in Moa. Official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso used social media to share the complaint of his colleague Yulieska Hernández García, who warned of the constant mineral dust emissions from the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara factory, part of the Cubaníquel Business Group.
"More information is needed on this issue," Alonso demanded, highlighting that, besides environmental protocols, communication also failed. In her post, Hernández described an "extremely uncomfortable" situation that has affected Moa's quality of life for weeks. "The worst moment was experienced in the last 24-48 hours, following the most intense mineral discharge from the reduction furnaces," she wrote.
The journalist criticized the lack of official communication: "The major discharge occurred without an explained cause and without timely prior notice." Ironically, the same journalist praised in a June report the "excellent environmental management results" achieved in the first half of 2025 by companies like Moa Nickel SA Pedro Sotto Alba, CEPRONIQUEL, CEXNI, and Cediniq Moa. Officials interviewed warned that the Cuban industry was preparing for increased production but did not mention the implications for residents' quality of life.
Understanding Moa's Environmental Challenges and Government Response
What caused the dust emissions in Moa to exceed legal limits?
The emissions exceeded legal limits due to a planned shutdown and technical failures in the environmental control systems, specifically the deterioration of electrostatic precipitators.
How is the Cuban government addressing the pollution issue in Moa?
The government is working on urgent repairs, activating contingency protocols with CITMA and local authorities, installing air monitoring stations, implementing baghouse filters, and reforesting exploited areas.
What partnerships has Cuba formed to tackle environmental issues?
Cuba has partnered with Canada to explore clean energy and environmental mitigation technologies as part of its strategy to address environmental challenges.