A Floating Turkish Power Plant Docks in Havana as Cuba's Energy Crisis Deepens

A Turkish floating power plant has arrived in Havana as Cuba continues to struggle with a severe and prolonged energy crisis. The vessel, named Belgin Sultan and operated by the Turkish company Karpowership, is part of a fleet of mobile power stations designed to deliver electricity quickly without requiring permanent onshore infrastructure. The ship is built on a converted vessel platform and can supply large amounts of energy to support national power grids.

Cuba has been suffering from frequent and widespread blackouts caused by outdated infrastructure, fuel shortages, and decades of underinvestment in its energy sector. To stabilise the grid, the island nation has been relying on both domestic production and external support.

According to reports, several of Karpowership's floating power plants are already operating in Cuba, contributing to the electricity supply. The latest deployment is expected to help stabilise power generation in the coming weeks.

The financial and operational terms of the agreement have not been fully disclosed. What is clear, however, is that Cuba remains dependent on temporary energy solutions. The country's energy woes are not new. Years of neglect, US sanctions that limit access to spare parts and investment, and the recent loss of subsidised fuel from Venezuela have all taken their toll. Rolling blackouts have become a daily reality for millions of Cubans, affecting everything from food storage to water pumping and hospital operations.

Karpowership, a Turkish company, has positioned itself as a rapid-response energy provider for countries in crisis. Its fleet of converted ships docks at ports and connects directly to local grids.

The model has been used in several countries, including Lebanon, Ghana, and Iraq. Critics, however, point to a lack of transparency in the company's contracts and concerns about energy dependency. The Belgin Sultan is now docked in Havana. The lights may stay on a little longer – at least for now. But a floating power plant is not a solution. It is a bandage. And Cuba has been bleeding for years.