Repairs at Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Reveal Greater Damage Than Expected

The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant (CTE) in Matanzas, a cornerstone of Cuba's energy system, is once again undergoing repairs following a breakdown initially believed to be a minor issue. On Saturday, authorities disclosed that the extent of the damage reported after the plant's unexpected shutdown last Wednesday was more severe than anticipated, prompting them to move up maintenance originally scheduled for September.

Edier Guzmán Pacheco, Director of Thermal Generation, explained that the maintenance will focus on restoring basic operational indicators of the plant, such as cleaning the air heaters and the condenser, which will allow for increased load capacity and greater system reliability.

"Mechanical cleaning of the boiler through the heat exchangers and resolving issues with the pumps are also priority tasks for reactivating the plant," Guzmán Pacheco stated.

Specialized brigades from the National Company for Maintenance of Electric Power Plants, along with personnel from the Antonio Guiteras plant and other plants across the country, are carrying out the repairs. These teams are working in continuous 24-hour shifts to expedite the resolution of the malfunction that led to the recent shutdown of Cuba's most efficient thermal block, according to a report by the National Television.

The technological failure in the turbine oil regulation system, which occurred early last Wednesday, was the trigger for this situation. Although it was initially expected that the plant could reconnect to the National Electric System (SEN) within 24 hours, authorities announced on Thursday that the CTE would remain out of service for at least seven days to complete the necessary repairs.

During this period, technicians will also perform cleaning and maintenance on other equipment requiring attention. "We believe that once the plant is restarted, it will operate between 160 and 265 MW, which had not been achieved due to boiler dirt and other damages," said the official.

The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant has symbolized the instability of Cuba's energy system in recent years, and its inability to operate continuously highlights the deficiencies and lack of proper maintenance in the country's energy infrastructure. José Miguel Solís, a journalist from Matanzas, described the situation as "particularly difficult" during the night and early morning following the breakdown, noting that the problem's solution was still pending.

Located in a key region of high electrical demand, the CTE Antonio Guiteras is essential for mitigating power outages in Cuba. However, its recent history of failures and shutdowns underscores an urgent need for investment and maintenance in the country's energy infrastructure to ensure more stable and reliable operation.

In this context, the Cuban population endures daily power outages lasting several hours. On the previous day, regime officials announced that due to the emergency situation, blackouts in the capital would also be increased to four hours daily.