Solar Energy Benefits Banking Services in Holguin Municipalities. Photo: Taken from Radio Juvenil

Banking Services in Holguin Protected with Solar Panels

As part of Cuba’s efforts to address the current power crisis. The Popular Bank (BPA) in Holguin province is implementing a strategy. To protect its essential services by installing solar panel systems at its main branches, out of a total of 26.

A Radio Holguin Facebook post indicates that the first phase of the project involves installing 18 solar panel systems.

To date, seven branches already have this energy backup. Located in the municipalities of Gibara, Rafael Freyre, Calixto Garcia, Urbano Noris, and Sagua de Tanamo, as well as two others in the city of Holguin.

Moreover the report highlights that Onier Serrano Leyva, provincial deputy director of BPA. He explained that these systems are two kilowatts. So they cannot power the entire branch. Also they do allow for prioritizing the service areas most in demand by the public.

This way, operations such as withdrawals, deposits, and, crucially, payments to retirees. One of the most vulnerable sectors served by banks—are guaranteed.

The report clarifies that the selection of protected branches was based on priority criteria. Prioritizing larger offices and those located in municipalities with more complex electricity supply.

“In municipalities like Mayari and Moa, higher-capacity systems will be installed. In Mayari, a 10-kilowatt system will be installed because it is a large branch with many customers. In Moa, we will protect both branches. One with a 10-kilowatt system and the other with a 2-kilowatt system,” the director specified.

Furthermore, the BPA headquarters in Holguin has had a 10-kilowatt system for the past two years. Ensuring power to the server and enabling connectivity with the branches.

In a Radio Holguin broadcast, Serrano Leyva warned that the presence of solar panels alone is not enough. Banking services also depend on the connectivity provided by ETECSA.

“Even with the panels, if there’s no connection, we can’t access the databases located in Havana and the Fontanar data center. We can’t provide service without that coverage,” he explained.

Radio Angulo
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