The breakdown that led to the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, located in Matanzas, being disconnected from Cuba's National Electric System (SEN) has been repaired. However, it will take several hours for the plant to resume electricity production. This information was confirmed by the official press in Matanzas, which stated that the repair work is complete and the process of starting up the machine will now begin.
Román Pérez Castañeda, the technical director of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant (CTE), described the restart as a "comprehensive" process that could last several hours. The country's largest power-generating facility was forced offline this past Friday due to a malfunction in one of its regenerative air heaters, following the failure of an alternating current motor. This component is crucial for maintaining the thermal efficiency of the energy generation process.
Jorge Gómez Sánchez, the production director at the Guiteras plant, explained that the drag group decoupled from the coupling that transmits rotational movement, necessitating an immediate shutdown. This breakdown occurred at a particularly critical juncture for the national electric system, which is already experiencing significant deficits.
Cuba's Electric Union (UNE) announced on Friday that despite the fault which exacerbated the generation deficit, they had the technical resources and skilled personnel necessary to carry out the required repairs, and work commenced without delay. Initially, it was estimated that the unit would be operational again by early morning.
Current Challenges Facing Cuba's Electrical Grid
The plant's outage and the delay in synchronization have dealt a severe blow to the SEN, which is already grappling with deficits exceeding 1,500 megawatts and is experiencing daily blackouts across all provinces. According to the official report from the UNE, Thursday concluded with a peak deficit of 1,547 megawatts (MW) at 10:00 PM, coinciding with the peak demand period.
Throughout the early hours of Friday, blackouts persisted relentlessly, with no relief in sight for the rest of the day. Even with the anticipated start-up of Unit 5 at the Nuevitas CTE, expected to provide an additional 70 MW, the forecasted availability stands at 2,020 MW against a demand of 3,480 MW. This scenario results in a projected shortfall of 1,460 MW. Should these conditions persist, the estimated impact will be 1,530 MW, highlighting the severe energy crisis facing the island.
Understanding Cuba's Current Energy Crisis
What caused the Antonio Guiteras power plant to shut down?
The shutdown was triggered by a malfunction in one of the plant's regenerative air heaters, following the failure of its alternating current motor.
How long is the repair process expected to take?
The repair and restart are expected to take several hours, as the process is described as "comprehensive" by plant officials.
What impact does the outage have on Cuba's electric grid?
The outage exacerbates an already critical deficit in the National Electric System, leading to blackouts and a projected shortfall of up to 1,530 megawatts.