The Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant (CTE), located in Matanzas, has been unable to reconnect to the National Electric System (SEN) following yet another breakdown, leaving the country with reduced power generation capacity.
The news was announced Thursday morning by Matanzas journalist José Miguel Solís, who documented the ongoing repairs at the facility on his Facebook profile. Solís stated that "the night and early hours were particularly challenging" and explained that "the issue with the turbine valve regulation could not be resolved at this time."
In an attempt to remain optimistic about an issue that has exhausted the patience of many Cubans, the journalist added that "the solution might come in a few hours or a couple of days," and emphasized that "a respite is also necessary to do things correctly."
In a previous post, Solís cited Rubén Campos Olmos, the director of the Guiteras plant, who mentioned progress in "inspecting and solving the oil system failure that controls the turbine valves," with expectations to test the system within hours and proceed with boiler ignition if successful. However, this proved to be impossible.
In another update, Solís referred to the "record-time" cleaning of the CARS, regenerative air heaters, which could potentially boost generation to around 260 or 270 MW.
Specialists' Evaluation and Authorities' Visit
Specialists assessed the valve control oil system failure at the Antonio Guiteras thermal plant in Matanzas, estimating it could be resolved within 24 hours. The plant, which went offline early Thursday, was expected to rejoin the SEN within a day, but once again, forecasts in Cuba have failed.
Rubén Campos Olmos detailed that he had the personnel and resources to address the issue and planned to use the short downtime to prepare auxiliary systems and equipment. The site was even visited by Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, Union Electric Director Alfredo López, and other Party and government authorities in Matanzas.
The Guiteras Power Plant's Struggles
The Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant, a symbol of the instability of Cuba's energy system in recent years, went offline again early yesterday due to an oil control system failure. This incident adds to a lengthy list of technical problems that have plagued the Guiteras plant recently. Despite authorities celebrating 59 consecutive days of operation before the latest breakdown, the plant's inability to operate continuously highlights the deficiencies and inadequate maintenance in Cuba's energy infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions about Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant Issues
Here are some common questions and answers regarding the repeated issues and delays in reconnecting the Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant to the National Electric System.
What caused the recent breakdown at the Guiteras plant?
The recent breakdown was caused by an issue with the regulation of the turbine valves, specifically a failure in the oil system that controls these valves.
How long was the Guiteras plant expected to be offline?
Specialists initially estimated that the issue could be resolved within 24 hours, but this timeframe has proven to be inaccurate.
Who visited the Guiteras plant to assess the situation?
The site was visited by Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, Union Electric Director Alfredo López, and other Party and government authorities in Matanzas.