Turkish Power Barge Departs Havana Amidst Widespread Blackouts and Broken Promises

The most powerful floating power station operating in Cuba has left the port of Havana for good this Wednesday morning. The departure of this barge leaves a trail of darkness in its wake. The Turkish floating power plant, boasting a capacity of 240 megawatts (MW), has exited, triggering significant concerns as only one barge remains operational in the country. This departure occurs while blackouts worsen and the national energy system continues to crumble, with no immediate solution in sight to replace the lost power generation.

A Departure Foretold, Yet Unacknowledged Publicly

Last Saturday, the Ministry of Energy and Mines announced that the barge Suheyla Sultan, also known during its operation in Cuba as Karadeniz One, would be disconnected for "commercial reasons." However, they refrained from specifying exactly when this physical withdrawal would take place. In the days that followed, some smoke was still visible from its chimneys, indicating partial activity, as reported on Wednesday by the outlet 14yMedio. However, this morning, it finally departed the Havana port, assisted by a tugboat, as images shared on social media revealed. The official press has remained completely silent on this matter.

Sources close to the operation suggest that the real reason for the withdrawal is the Cuban regime's failure to make payments. In May, the independent media outlet 14yMedio predicted the departure of the Suheyla Sultan, but the regime denied it would happen. Less than three months later, the departure has indeed taken place.

From Eight to One: The Exodus of Power Barges

At the peak of Turkish presence, Cuba had eight barges from the company Karpowership operating along its coast. Now, only one remains, anchored in Regla, and it too is facing challenges: according to the Electric Union (UNE), 37 MW are out of service due to a lack of fuel. The Suheyla Sultan was the one with the highest individual capacity. In December 2024, Minister Vicente de la O Levy warned the National Assembly that the barges would leave sooner rather than later due to the nation's inability to fulfill payment obligations. Although he advocated for a long-term plan relying on domestic and renewable sources, he acknowledged that it would not be ready by the summer of 2025.

Severe Deficit and Unrelenting Blackouts

The disconnection of the Suheyla Sultan comes at a challenging time: the country's electrical deficit is reaching unprecedented levels. This past Tuesday, Cuba experienced one of the worst electrical days of the year, with widespread blackouts and a deficit exceeding 2,000 megawatts (MW), confirming the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN). According to the official report by the Electric Union (UNE), the maximum impact was 2,010 MW, surpassing the initially forecasted value of 1,872 MW. The UNE attributed the increased impact to technological constraints in unit 3 of the CTE Céspedes and the unexpected outage of unit 6 of the CTE Renté, adding to a long list of plants out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance. For tonight's peak, an estimated impact of 1,858 MW is anticipated.

The barge's departure is far from a mere technical adjustment; it places even greater pressure on an infrastructure already on the brink of collapse.

No Emergency Plan and Crumbling Thermoelectric Plants

Minister De la O Levy's discourse pointed towards an "energy sovereignty" based on the country's internal capabilities: utilizing national crude oil, accompanying gas, biomass, solar power, and wind energy. However, none of this has materialized significantly. Meanwhile, aging thermoelectric plants, plagued with constant breakdowns, cannot meet demand. In the absence of real short-term alternatives, Cubans face a bleak outlook: more blackouts, more heat, and more uncertainty. As the government remains silent and ships drift away, both literal and figurative darkness lingers over Cuba.