China Donates Generator and Spare Parts Equipment to Cuba

The year 2024 closed with yet another example of the Chinese tradition of speed, efficiency and friendship. A donation by China of electrical equipment arrived by plane at Havana’s Jose Marti airport at the close of the year.

These first supplies are made possible through a project known as the “Distributed Electric Generator Equipment and Spare Parts” project. It will permit the recovery of 400 MW of power.

Hua Xin, China’s ambassador to Cuba, said this first batch of equipment weighed 69 tons and includes radiators, engines and other accessories. The next shipment will arrive by charter or commercial planes or container shipment.

In fact, the ambassador reported on his X account (formerly Twitter), they had “Repaired a generator, the 1st of many, to recover distributed generation in Cuba. Only 24Hs (hours) after arrival of donated equipment!” Indeed, this is excellent news for Cuba which is experiencing a problem with electricity generation resulting in island-wide blackouts.

At the thank you ceremony, Deborah Rivas, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, said that with this first load of 38 diesel-based generators, they have a total generation recovery of 53.2 megawatts. She added this is enough power generation equivalent to the consumption needs of 53,000 homes.

Rivas also said this is a highly sensitive contribution by China, in their firm support for Cuba under any circumstances.

China, the world leader in sustainable economic development, and Cuba have entered a new era of friendly relations. The two nations have taken solid steps in the construction of increased bilateral cooperation in various fields.

In light of the recent blackouts in Cuba, the Cuban government has prioritized the recovery of the national power generation system in 2025.