Cienfuegos Power Plant Temporarily Withdrawn from National Grid for Maintenance Overhaul

The Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant in Cienfuegos has been completely disconnected from Cuba's national power grid to undergo a comprehensive maintenance overhaul. This marks a rare occasion for the usually stable Cienfuegos plant, as it disconnects both of its units simultaneously. This development was reported by the state journalist Bernardo Espinoza on the National Television News.

"The plant being offline for intensive maintenance is an uncommon event," remarked the journalist. "Over more than 40 years, at least one of the plant's two units has typically remained operational, with only a few exceptions." He noted the last complete disconnection occurred on Sunday, October 20, owing to a significant malfunction in Unit 3.

Unit 3 experienced a notable turbine failure following a grid collapse on October 18, explained José Osvaldo González Rodríguez, the plant's general director. The ongoing "comprehensive technological intervention" aims to "restore design parameters and regulate system frequencies."

Unit 3 and Unit 4: Repair and Maintenance Priorities

The primary focus is on completing repairs to Unit 3, which involves cleaning out ducts and removing sediments and mussels that obstruct the crucial seawater flow used for cooling. Meanwhile, Unit 4 requires a more extensive intervention, including capitalizable maintenance on key components such as the economizer, exchangers, and turbine. This process involves replacing critical parts to ensure a reliable and sustainable return to the national grid, as highlighted by the director.

Following the grid collapse between October 18 and 20, which caused the turbine damage in Unit 3, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) announced that the issues with Unit 4 had been resolved, though details on the nature of the issues and necessary repairs were not disclosed. This unit underwent significant maintenance over 35 days earlier in April.

Logistics and Uncertain Timelines

"We have all the logistical support to complete the work on these units," assured González Rodríguez, though he did not specify a projected completion date for the maintenance.

In addition to "cleaning actions," technicians aim to address "all the issues encountered in the turbine" of Unit 3, which remains the top priority. Once resolved, UNE technicians will proceed with actions on the other unit.

"A capitalizable maintenance will be performed on the boiler; exchangers, superheaters, reheaters, the economizer, part of the primary superheater will be replaced, and the turbine will be intervened," González Rodríguez explained, without detailing the action schedule.

Jesús Cáceres Abreu, a worker at the maintenance company, stated to the government journalist, "We're tackling the situation head-on. We're focused on this part of the burners. It's been years since we've seen both units offline like this. But we'll get them running again." Despite the strong resolve, there is no clear plan in place.

"The timeline cannot be shorter due to the complexity, technical precision, and scale of the work involved. However, there's no doubt about the commitment from this team and all workers here to ensure these two units return with reliability, stability, and their full nominal power of 158 MW each, totaling 316 MW," concluded González Rodríguez, leaving the completion date uncertain.

The Essential Role of Cienfuegos Plant in Cuba's Power Generation

The Carlos Manuel de Céspedes plant has been a cornerstone of Cuba's power system since its inception over four decades ago, surpassing the typical 30-year lifespan for diesel-powered generation units.

In 2017, it underwent a nearly year-long repair aimed at modernizing its infrastructure and maintaining operational capacity. In 2018, significant technological advancements were implemented to enhance efficiency, costing 145 million pesos. The plant operates with two Hitachi generators utilizing Japanese technology.

However, in October 2024, Unit 3 disconnected following a turbine malfunction, leading to widespread blackouts across several provinces. Later, in November, Unit 4 also encountered technical issues, disrupting power supply in Havana and other areas.

The resolution of the latest Unit 4 malfunction in early November offered partial relief to the energy crisis, although the current simultaneous disconnection of both units presents a significant technical and logistical challenge. This situation heightens uncertainty about when the units will be fully reintegrated into the national grid, further exacerbating the anxiety of Cubans uncertain about when they will see the light at the end of the tunnel.