The Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Plant (Felton) Unit 1 in Mayarí successfully reconnected to the National Electrical System (SEN) on Friday night after being out of operation due to a malfunction since February 11, as reported by the Cuban Electric Union (UNE). This unit's contribution of approximately 230 megawatts (MW) could provide a slight boost to electricity generation. However, this improvement falls short of stabilizing a system that currently faces a peak-hour deficit exceeding 1,600 MW, resulting in prolonged blackouts affecting millions across Cuba.
According to the Communist Party of Cuba's official newspaper, Granma, Felton's Block 1 was disconnected due to a generator protection mechanism. While the cause of the malfunction was determined after a seven-day cooling period, the specifics were not disclosed. Edier Guzmán Pacheco, the UNE's Director of Thermal Generation, explained that after the cooling and necessary technical evaluations, synchronization tests were successfully completed on Friday night. Despite the lack of details on the recent malfunction of the plant, officially opened by General Raúl Castro on January 5, 2001, the state's monopoly electricity customers (all Cubans) hope for continuous operation without further breakdowns.
The Cuban populace's frustration and despair continue to mount due to the government's lack of effective initiatives and actions under Miguel Díaz-Canel, who seems more focused on propaganda than tangible solutions.
2025: A Troubled Start for Felton
Felton's thermoelectric plant has been one of the most technically challenged facilities in recent months, exacerbating Cuba's energy crisis. Since January 2025, Unit 1 has experienced multiple disconnections:
- January 30, 2025: Felton Unit 1 disconnected from the SEN for a scheduled ten-day maintenance, including air heater cleaning in the boiler and turbine component inspection.
- February 7, 2025: Post-maintenance, the unit successfully resynchronized with the system, restoring its generation capacity.
- February 11, 2025: A cooling system malfunction forced another immediate disconnection, triggering further blackouts on the island.
- February 17, 2025: After turbine cooling, technicians began inspecting and repairing internal generator components.
- February 26, 2025: UNE announced the unit would be ready to resume operations on February 27, following repairs. However, shortly after this announcement, state journalist José Miguel Solís withdrew his original post, issuing a "clarification" to "avoid false expectations."
On March 1, the unit reconnected to the SEN, yet the island's energy crisis persists, leaving Cubans uncertain about when the Holguín plant, along with Matanzas' Guiteras, might experience another failure, which have been the epicenters of widespread blackouts in the country.
Continued Power Struggles in Cuba: Multiple Units Offline
Despite Felton 1's return, Cuba's electricity generation remains inadequate. The UNE reports several plants are still down due to malfunctions:
- Unit 5 of the Máximo Gómez Thermoelectric Plant (Mariel).
- Unit 1 of the Ernesto Che Guevara Thermoelectric Plant (Santa Cruz del Norte).
- Unit 5 of the Diez de Octubre Thermoelectric Plant (Nuevitas).
Other blocks in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba are under maintenance, and 76 distributed generation plants face fuel shortages. With an energy shortfall exceeding 1,600 MW during peak consumption times, the situation remains dire for Cubans, who endure daily prolonged blackouts without any immediate resolution in sight.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
What caused the recent outage at Felton's Unit 1?
The recent outage was caused by a malfunction in the cooling system of the generator, necessitating a disconnection from the National Electrical System.
How significant is the power deficit in Cuba?
Cuba experiences a power deficit exceeding 1,600 MW during peak hours, leading to prolonged blackouts affecting millions of residents.
What are the implications of Felton's synchronization with the SEN?
While Felton's synchronization adds approximately 230 MW to the system, it is insufficient to address the country's significant energy shortfall.