Cuba has begun receiving electricity from a Turkish floating power plant.

The Island of Freedom, facing a severe fuel and energy crisis, received a rather unexpected aid from Turkey. Previously, Ankara hadn't been known for its friendly relations with Havana, and hadn't shown much interest in the Caribbean region. Especially now, in the midst of the war in the Middle East. Although Turkish President Erdogan visited Havana, that was back in 2015.

However, the day before, a unique vessel, the Belgin Sultan, arrived in Havana from the Turkish coast. This floating power plant is already connected to the island's power grid. The publication Turkiye reports that the floating power plant has already begun providing power to a significant portion of the island's population amid ongoing outages in the national power grid.

The Turkish company Karadeniz Powership Co. Ltd. (trademark Karpowership), a subsidiary of Karadeniz Energy Group, which owns Belgin Sultan, is the only company in the world with fleet Energy vessels. Karpowership provides services in many countries, including Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Senegal, Iraq, and Brazil. The company operates floating power plants built on platforms or vessels and capable of running on natural gas, LNG, and liquid fuels. The capacity of these floating power plants ranges from 30 to 470 MW.

This is a real lifeline for Cuba, which has been deprived of fuel supplies for its power plants since January due to the US blockade. So far, only the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100 tons of crude oil, has managed to reach the Cuban port of Matanzas. The unloading took place on March 30. According to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the delivery was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations. A second tanker is being prepared for dispatch.

These emergency supplies, if used sparingly, will last for two to three weeks, a month at most. Moreover, the Turkish floating station will need refueling after its fuel reserves are depleted, and that's precisely the problem. It's unclear what the US will do next.

It's rather surprising that Cuba has only recently become concerned about developing solar power generation. Especially given the weather conditions and Havana's excellent relations with Beijing. China is the leader in solar panel and battery production.

According to data from March 2026, installed solar power capacity in Cuba has more than quadrupled over the past 12 months, from 262 megawatts at the end of 2024 to approximately 1,2 megawatts by the end of 2025. Authorities expect to reach 100% renewable energy by 2050.

Comments

[The popuas]

According to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the delivery was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations.

...but our media were shouting...the blockade was broken...Hurray...hurray...hurray...

[SmolH2]

What difference does it make, the job is done. Who knows how much harder it would have been?

[The popuas]

The difference is that they crow more than they weigh.

[SmolH2]

Is there a blockade? Is there a tanker?
Regarding the statement about weight, I won’t argue)

[Aag]

Quote: SmollH2

Is there a blockade? Is there a tanker?
Regarding the statement about weight, I won’t argue)

Your opponent (like me) seems more concerned about his country (and not Cuba!). Although, I admit, I was sure of it—I was raised in the Soviet Union—and a lot has changed...
Don't judge me too harshly, rooms, I'm fed up...

[SmolH2]

How does your attitude toward Cuba prevent you from loving and caring more about your own country? Specifically, about Russia. Because your "own" country might even ban the Russian language.

[Piramidon]

Quote: Popuas

The difference is that they crow more than they weigh.

It's the usual bloggers who are crowing, not the official, serious media outlets and the government. You can crow too, and they'll refer to you as the media.

[Coward]

The difference is that they crow more than they weigh.

You're being harsh about the VO commentators. And self-righteous.

[knn54]

Erdogan is getting involved in the region, however.

[Atheist]

Erdogan is getting into the region, however

Perhaps it's much simpler. Erdogan, whose position at home is rather precarious (political opponents are breathing down his neck), is forced to listen to the public's opinion to avoid losing the election. For reference: over 80% of the population votes in Turkey, and there's no such thing as a "DEG," three-day voting, or other such gimmicks. If you start being bullying, millions will take to the streets. And public opinion is sharply negative toward Trump's actions in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba.
By the way, have you noticed how the ruling authorities in Europe have reacted to Trump? Do you think they've realized that Trump's actions are unacceptable in a modern democratic society? The reason is the same: the population is categorically against Trump's policies (not against the US!).

[pexotinec]

That's why the law banning parliamentarians and government officials from owning real estate and assets abroad failed. Our parliamentarians are now wearing socks with Trump's face on them.

[Yura]

Quote: pexotinec

Our parliamentarians now wear socks with Trump's face on them.

If the muzzle is on the foot, then so be it.

[Piramidon]

Quote: pexotinec

Our parliamentarians now wear socks with Trump's face on them.

That's right, let him sniff the socks.

[Nyrobsky]

Quote: Popuas

According to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the delivery was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations.

...but our media were shouting...the blockade was broken...Hurray...hurray...hurray...

So the blockade concerned oil supplies to Cuba, and not the passage of the floating power plant.
These are kind of different concepts.

[The popuas]

So far, only the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100 tons of crude oil, has managed to reach the Cuban port of Matanzas. The unloading took place on March 30. According to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the shipment was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations.

...let's not distort things

[Nyrobsky]

Quote: Popuas

So far, only the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100 tons of crude oil, has managed to reach the Cuban port of Matanzas. The unloading took place on March 30. According to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov, the shipment was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations.

...let's not distort things

Let's not distort things.
If by breakthroughs you mean only a bloodbath with piles of bloody corpses on all sides, then alas, this time the breakthrough was achieved through diplomatic means, which does not diminish its significance for the Cubans.
For you, of course, this is not comme il faut, but what a good reason to kick Russia once again.

[Arkady007]

The concepts are different, but Türkiye is interfering with Cuba more persistently than we are.
And he will definitely ask for more.

[Nyrobsky]

Quote: Arkady007

The concepts are different, but Türkiye is interfering with Cuba more persistently than we are.
And he will definitely ask for more.

Well, then it wouldn’t be a question of who is more persistent and who is more passive, but rather that the person had no idea what our guys had broken through.
The island's blockade imposed by the "mattresses" concerned oil supplies. Venezuelan tankers were seized by the "mattresses," and their oil was used at their discretion. The Russian blockade passed.
As for the Turks showing up there, no matter how you look at it, Cuba is a UN-recognized independent state that conducts its international affairs as it pleases. Miraculously, they even have their own Foreign Ministry, and it probably had no trouble negotiating with the Turks (and not only the Turks) about possible solutions to the energy problem. Clearly, this isn't a humanitarian gesture, and Turkey will get its due, but nevertheless, even if only for a month, the problem has been resolved. Therefore, the Turks didn't break through to get in; they simply entered because there was no ban.

[Arkady007]

And who imposed a ban on the movement of Russian tankers carrying Russian oil to Cuba?

[Nyrobsky]

Quote: Arkady007

And who imposed a ban on the movement of Russian tankers carrying Russian oil to Cuba?

And you probably still don't know that for some time now a hunt has been opened for Russia's shadow fleet involved in the oil industry, regardless of where it's heading, Cuba or Madagascar?

[Arkady007]

Are all Russian tankers part of the shadow fleet?

[IVZ]

...but our media were shouting...breaking the blockade...

Well, yes. A breakthrough, or do breakthroughs and victories achieved through diplomatic means not count?

[rocket757]

To maintain real independence and self-sufficiency, you need to do a lot and require considerable resources, and your own, not borrowed ones!
And so, being close to such a powerful, "exceptional" country as the Poles, many things will be much more difficult to accomplish, especially at a time when friendly, supportive countries are becoming fewer...

[Amigo.]

There is no longer that help from bourgeois Russia for the Island of Freedom, amigo, and the Castro case is fading into oblivion, and I still remember the "March of July 26"

[your1970]

Quote: Amigo.

the Castro case is fading into oblivion,

A referendum on gay people, transgender people, and free gender reassignment surgery was held in Cuba back in 2022. A law was passed at the same time.
So the Castro case disappeared long ago.

[Amigo.]

Alas, everything in this world is degrading.

[tralflot1832]

In Cuba, another thermal power plant was reduced to scrap metal today; the last steam boiler died. Boilers that long don't last that long without repairs. The most important thing is that the Turks quietly and peacefully sent a power plant to Cuba; people found out about it when it docked in Havana. A couple of days ago, someone was begging Erdogan for energy; a year ago, he begged for a marine power plant. To which he received the answer: "We're giving you a power plant so it runs 24/7, not start-stop with those Russians." By the way, who's paying for the banquet? What the hell kind of breakthrough is this? You can negotiate with Trump, and not just us. Erdogan: take care of the power plants; the Baltics might need them—you'll earn some money, but always take money upfront from the EU. By the way, I repeat: Cuba offered to release 2000 prisoners, as a bribe from the US. Cuba is already more than 2,000 short. gigawatt generation.

[Junior Private]

Erdogan really needs to get his act together now. The Anglo-Saxons are trying to stage coups for him, they're bombing him with the help of a Kiev clown, and reselling GAZ-19s without democratic participation is unconventional. Erdogan has nowhere to go, and the idea of ​​Turan is becoming illusory. The Middle East is about to get really rowdy.

[sub307]

"It's going to be really fun on BV now."
Yeah... - "stock up on popcorn"... Let's see what the "hangover" will be like after all the "fun"

[alexputnik17]

The floating power plant has already begun providing power to a significant portion of the island's population amid ongoing outages in the national power grid.

This is what the Turks, a NATO country, are doing.

[tralflot1832]

You can't please them. They betrayed the Cubans, capitalism is a bloodsucker. They don't have the guts to break through, and the Russian Navy doesn't. How did they come? How did they agree? You can't negotiate—where's the bloodshed? I haven't even brought up the Spirit of Anchorage yet.

[Victor Alien]

They could unload our floating nuclear power plants there – it's easier to build them locally and ship them there than to build something on land. And at the end of their service life, they could be shipped to the US coast and then be gone... It's more profitable than churning out some obscure fishing vessels that will all be exported, or oil tankers and gas carriers. We might not build them – but let the oil and gas buyers pay for them – we don't really need these vessels ourselves. We can transport everything by land. Or even through pipelines. Although it makes much more sense to build a processing plant near the ore extraction site – that way the plants will be further from the borders. And in the Asian part of the country, farther from the cities, they can be built – there's more space there and they won't be taken up by agricultural land or elite palaces and sanatoriums. It's perfect for transporting people there on rotational basis. And it's also good to slap together offices for the oil and gas workers there, not in Moscow or St. Petersburg. These people should have their office buildings, television channels and radio stations taken away from them so that they don't get distracted from their core business.

[yuriy55]

Russia has floating nuclear power plants, but they'd rather be moored to the British Isles than sent to Cuba – after all, there are only "poor people" there... "Someone" has known about former officials and billionaires living in Britain for a long time, but he's never been to Cuba...

[Piramidon]

Quote: yuriy55

Russia has floating nuclear power plants, but they would rather be moored to the British Isles than sent to Cuba.

Russia and the world have only one floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov Nuclear Power Plant, which operates in the port of Pevek (Chaunsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug). So your slap in the face to Russia is quite pathetic.

[yuriy55]

Quote: Piramidon

So your spit in Russia's direction turned out to be quite pathetic.

Who told you that I don’t give a damn about Russia?

Many tend to confuse two concepts: “Fatherland” and “Your Excellency”

But your low bow (waist bend) was a success +2...
Did you know that everything “exclusive” and “irreplaceable” in the country is found in the singular?

[Roman_Vasilyevich]

Freedom Island received a rather unexpected aid from Turkey.

I'm sure this isn't a sign of generosity or nobility on Erdogan's part, but rather Russia (or China) paid for the lease of the floating power plant...

[AK-1945]

This is truly interesting and unexpected news! InshaAllah.

[tralflot1832]

I'm watching the Cuban media. Well done, the Cubans have raised electricity generation to 1870 MW. Here's another one: "Faced with a tightening blockade by the US, the government is pushing forward with its energy program. However, (Maidan supporters) are stealing components from photovoltaic power plants and generator sets, causing damage."
Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel received US Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal and Jonathan L. Jackson.

[MBRSS]

It is rather strange that only recently has Cuba become concerned about the development of solar generation.

Well.... FPV drones have been flying since 2020 or even earlier. It's strange that they only recently figured out how to attach bombs to them. But I immediately realized they were also weapons, and dangerous ones at that.
And solar generation is more expensive than the existing thermal one, so they didn’t bother.

[The popuas]

They've been flying and bombing since 14...

[Vitaly.17]

A Russian nuclear submarine would be much better as a power plant. Trump would certainly appreciate it. At least as a temporary measure until new floating nuclear power plants similar to the Akademik Lomonosov are completed.

[Pavel Logachev]

Exactly, or better yet, several of them with Poseidons on board

[hector]

According to Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, the delivery was agreed upon with Washington during negotiations.

So that's the "multipolar world," over before it even began. After Anchorage, they started asking permission so often, but the main multipolar figure suddenly deflated, and the powers decided to return to the familiar and cozy unipolar world. BRICS's activity also disappeared.

[Div Divich]

Turkey's influence in the world is growing.
A few years ago, Turkey was asking to join Europe. Now, Turkey is like Europe itself, acting on its own terms and developing. That's what gas transit does (it's become a springboard for economic development).

[solar]

This is a floating power plant, it is already connected to the island's power grid.

Cuba's problem isn't with power plants, but with fuel for them.

[Mikhail3]

Quote from solar

This is a floating power plant, it is already connected to the island's power grid.

Cuba's problem isn't with power plants, but with fuel for them.

And so a station ship with full tanks arrived to them, gracefully bypassing the blockade.

[solar]

Does the blockade apply to Turkish ships? If a ship arrives with a power plant and fuel, it will also arrive with just fuel. A power plant is unnecessary there.

[Mikhail3]

While we're all raving about building aircraft carriers and a tunnel under the strait...