Experts from the Electrical Union of Cuba (UNE) believe that the Felton Power Plant may resume operations this Saturday after it was taken offline due to a boiler malfunction on Thursday.
On Friday, an operation was scheduled to begin at around 4:00 am to bring the boiler to a suitable temperature for the technicians' work. The malfunction occurred in Unit 1 of the facility due to a "puncture" in the tubes of the left side wall, just over three meters high.
"Identifying damaged tubes and performing replacement or welding operations is a critical task. If all goes well, the unit is likely to resume operations on Saturday," the UNE stated on its Facebook page.
Amid the current crisis, the malfunction at the Holguín-based power plant had a significant impact on the distribution of electrical power, especially in the eastern region. It caused a frequency-triggered outage that affected line 5545, which supplies circuits in the Bartolomé Masó municipality and the La Curva Substation in Granma.
The Electrical Company of that province warned of disruptions "outside the planned rotation schedule by blocks."
"Circuits will experience a six-hour power outage and three hours of service, depending on the behavior and availability of the country's power generation," they detailed.
On Thursday, power outages due to a generation capacity deficit lasted the entire 24 hours, and by early Friday morning, service had not yet been restored. The UNE announced nearly 1,000 MW of deficit-related cuts during peak hours on Friday.
According to content creator Emilio Rodríguez Pupo, cited by official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso, Felton's operators had begun the "cooling process for corrections."
"The work will require no less than three days due to the boiler's cooling process," the information specified.
Frequently Asked Questions about Felton Power Plant and Cuba's Electrical Challenges
Below are some common questions and answers regarding the recent issues faced by the Felton Power Plant and the broader electrical challenges in Cuba.
What caused the malfunction at the Felton Power Plant?
The malfunction was caused by a puncture in the tubes of the left side wall of Unit 1's boiler.
How did the malfunction affect the power distribution?
The malfunction caused a frequency-triggered outage that affected line 5545, impacting circuits in the Bartolomé Masó municipality and the La Curva Substation in Granma.
What are the expected power outage durations?
Circuits will experience six-hour power outages and three hours of service, depending on the availability of the country's power generation.
When is the Felton Power Plant expected to resume operations?
If all repair work goes according to plan, the Felton Power Plant is expected to resume operations on Saturday.