Turkish powerships, operated by the company Karpowership (a subsidiary of Karadeniz Holding), provide approximately 25% of Cuba's total electricity supply as of April 2026. These floating power plants serve as a critical mobile backup to the island's aging and inefficient land-based grid.
Core Operational Details
- Active Fleet (Havana Area): The current operating fleet includes the Belgin Sultan (the latest arrival), Süheyla Sultan, and Erol Bey.
- Rapid Deployment: The ships use "plug-and-play" technology, allowing them to connect directly to the existing local grid and begin generating power within 30 days of arrival.
- Fuel Versatility: Most vessels are dual-fuel, capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) or diesel/heavy fuel oil.
- Capacity: Individual ship capacities vary; for example, the Belgin Sultan produces up to 76 MW, while the larger Süheyla Sultan has a capacity of 240 MW.
Recent Status and Challenges
- 2026 Reactivation: After a period of inactivity in 2025 due to fuel shortages and payment issues, operations were resumed in early April 2026 following a large delivery of Russian crude oil to Cuba.
- Financial Strain: The lease for these ships is costly, estimated at roughly $172,800 per day per vessel in previous years. Cuba has historically struggled to meet these payment commitments, leading to temporary withdrawals of the fleet.
- Humanitarian Mission: Following the grid collapses in March 2026, Karpowership has characterized its current work in the region as "humanitarian and infrastructural support" rather than a new investment.
The recent fuel agreements between and Russia are part of an emergency "energy supply plan" designed to stabilize Cuba's collapsing power grid and support the reactivation of the Turkish powerships.
Key Fuel Deliveries (March–April 2026)
- Initial Shipment: On March 31, 2026, the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin docked at the Matanzas oil terminal carrying roughly 730,000 barrels of crude oil.
- Diesel Aid: Russia announced an emergency aid package of 80,000 tons of diesel fuel (valued at $60 million) to specifically address fuel shortfalls for power generation.
- Second Tanker: A second major shipment was confirmed to be loading in early April 2026 to provide further "breathing room" for the island's reserves.
- Total Capacity: Experts estimate these initial shipments provide enough refined diesel to sustain Cuba's daily demand for approximately 9 to 10 days.
Geopolitical and Operational Context
- U.S. Waiver: The current U.S. administration allowed these sanctioned Russian vessels to dock for humanitarian reasons, citing the need to prevent a total collapse of essential services like hospitals and water systems.
- Management Concessions: In exchange for this energy security, Russia and Cuba have discussed granting Russian companies access to the management of various industrial enterprises on the island.
- Transition to Powerships: This influx of Russian crude and diesel is what allowed the Turkish powership Belgin Sultan to rejoin the grid on April 7, 2026, as the ships had previously been idle due to a lack of fuel and unpaid debts.
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