Attempts to Restart the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant

The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest power generator in Cuba, is set to attempt synchronization with the National Electric System (SEN) this Sunday. This follows a failed attempt on Saturday due to a lack of energy. In a recent update on the energy service restoration efforts in Matanzas, state journalist José Miguel Solís reported that technicians are currently working on adjusting parameters to synchronize the plant and generate electricity after Friday's massive blackout.

Describing the process as more adrenaline-inducing than extreme sports, Solís mentioned that a team is calibrating valves and making other adjustments necessary to get the plant up and running. "The CTE Antonio Guiteras will synchronize this Sunday because the crucial part isn't just attempting in the face of technological challenges, but doing it right. Best of luck and, of course, our best wishes for getting things done correctly," he stated.

He emphasized the difficulty of the task and the resourcefulness of the workers in trying to bring the plant online. "Extreme sports are said to generate the most adrenaline... but don't believe it until you visit the CTE Antonio Guiteras. You'll see firsthand the realities of overcoming technology, fighting fatigue, and finding time to not only handle the press but also monitor dozens of technical parameters ahead of synchronization," he wrote.

Subsequently, reporter Yuni Moliner highlighted that the machines are running at normal speed as they work to create the conditions, in coordination with the National Dispatch, to integrate the plant into the system. On Saturday, Guiteras officials had announced that there was insufficient energy to start the plant. Therefore, maintenance chief Elmer García Romero explained they were "taking advantage" of the downtime to "repair a leak in a boiler water wall."

Additionally, they were working on improving the boiler area with a "hot spot" and cleaning the regenerative air heaters. Meanwhile, plant director Rubén Campos Olmos noted that starting the plant from a "cold state" required at least six hours, plus an additional hour for synchronization with the SEN.

The Energás Varadero plant had power on Saturday to initiate and supply the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, as stated by the officials, but it was not enough to kickstart the thermoelectric plant. According to the Matanzas Electric Company, 18 circuits have service this Sunday. However, they warned that during the "consolidation process of the microsystems, this may be unstable."

"That's why electricity may come and go from circuits that have already been powered," they cautioned. The nationwide blackout in Cuba on Friday was caused by a failure in the Diezmero electrical substation, attributed to an insulation issue in a line component that had been in use for many years.

The lack of preventive maintenance and the inability to replace aging components due to market restrictions also contributed to the collapse of the national electric system. Although the Cuban government has implemented "microsystems" to supply power to specific areas and essential centers, these temporary solutions have proven insufficient to effectively stabilize the electricity supply, leaving the population to endure prolonged blackouts.