In 2025, Cuba will have its first minute of electricity generation without imported fuel 

Photo: Dunia Álvarez

Eliminating dependence on imported fossil fuels for electricity generation in the country, as well as producing 29% of energy through renewable sources, is a long-awaited goal.Vicente de la O Levy, head of Energy and Mines, expressed in the television program Mesa Redonda, that "we are convinced that, with the growth of renewable energy sources, the growth of Energás, and the repairs we are making in the thermal units, we will have, in 2025, at least one minute of generation without consuming imported fuel.""That will be the first minute, but we hope to continue increasing it," he said, adding that it will not be an easy road, but full of obstacles, but it is the safe road.Currently, explained Rosell Guerra Campaña, director of Renewable Energies of the Minem, as part of the ambitious project to install 92 photovoltaic solar parks with a total power of 2 000 mw, 30 are already under civil construction.In Havana, Las Tunas, Pinar del Río, Mayabeque, Sancti Spíritus and Guantánamo provinces  there is at least one park under construction; in Matanzas, Ciego de Avila, Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey and Artemisa there are two; Cienfuegos and Villa Clara are in the process of structuring three; while in Holguín and Granma there are four.Guerra Campaña said that it is estimated that ten of these parks will be installed this year, equivalent to 220 megawatts. However, work is being done to prepare the land to make as much progress as possible, prior to the arrival of the panels.To date, there are 77 photovoltaic solar parks installed in Cuba, with 286 megawatts (MW) of power, which annually replace more than 80,000 tons of fuel.