In late January, President Trump signed an executive order authorizing tariffs on countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, part of a broader effort by Washington to tighten its energy blockade on the island. Cuban authorities believe the U.S. aims to make living conditions unbearable for the Cuban people through such measures. The country has experienced severe electricity disruptions as a result — on March 16, Cuba reported a complete nationwide power outage that took over a day to partially restore.
China has stepped in to help fill the gap, primarily through solar energy. According to U.S. media reports, Chinese solar panels already installed or being installed across parts of Cuba can supply up to 10 percent of the country’s electricity needs. More than 90 solar farms are expected to be completed by 2028, which could help Cuba partially offset U.S.-imposed oil restrictions. On March 11, China’s Ambassador to Cuba visited three Havana clinics equipped with Chinese medical and energy equipment, reaffirming Beijing’s willingness to support Cuba’s energy transition.
The scale of Chinese solar panel exports to Cuba has grown dramatically. China, which produced 80% of the world’s solar panels in 2024, exported just $3.86 million worth of panels to Cuba in 2020. That figure rose to $48.37 million in 2024, before surging to $117.27 million in 2025 — a 142.4 percent year-on-year increase and a staggering 2,938 percent jump compared to 2025. In terms of capacity, exports climbed from 0.01 gigawatts in 2020 to 1.17 gigawatts in 2025, a 160 percent rise from the prior year.
Cuba is well-suited for solar energy, averaging around 330 sunny days per year. China’s leading solar manufacturers — including JinkoSolar, LONGi, Trina Solar, JA Solar, and Tongwei — are positioned to play an even greater role in supporting Cuba’s energy future.
Source: Sputnik News, March 20, 2026
https://sputniknews.cn/20260320/1070354363.html