Guantanamo.- A new community charging and service center—the first of its kind in the populous Caribe neighborhood in the northern part of the city—is now operational, benefiting one of Guantánamo’s most densely populated districts.
Operated by the Housing Unit of the Guanco Integrated Construction Enterprise, the center is located at the intersection of San Gregorio and 13 Norte streets and provides local residents with a range of services.
These offerings help ease the difficulties caused by the area’s challenging electricity situation, which has been exacerbated by tighter U.S. sanctions and restrictions on oil imports to Cuba—measures imposed by the administration of Donald Trump since January.
Oscar Gómez, the center’s director, explained that the facility currently provides charging services for several types of electric transportation. These include electric tricycles, for which four charging ports are available, as well as electric scooters, mopeds, and pedicabs, bringing the total to 10 charging stations.
The center also has designated areas for charging mobile phones, portable power stations such as EcoFlow units, and batteries. In addition, a cooking area equipped with rice cookers, multicookers, and induction cooktops allows residents to prepare food they bring with them.
Gómez said that partnerships with other institutions are being established to provide cafeteria services, with digital payment transfers available as an option. This payment method is already used to purchase products such as cartons of eggs.
The center operates from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., making use of daylight hours and stored energy. It is powered by a 20-kilowatt solar array comprising 20 panels, although it is currently operating at half of its full capacity. Three workers manage the facility, where charging fees range from 50 pesos for mobile phones to 800 pesos for tricycles.
Demand is expected to increase as residents become more familiar with the facility. According to Gómez, the site will also undergo further improvements.
Through this initiative, Guantánamo is advancing the development and implementation of a network of 30 similar facilities. The project is supported by the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba and the provincial government, in cooperation with various agencies.
Most of the planned centers have already been established in the provincial capital, while additional facilities are operating in the municipalities of Maisí and Imías.
