Unexpected Shutdown of Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Worsens Cuba's Blackout Crisis

The energy crisis gripping Cuba escalated on Tuesday following the abrupt shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant in Matanzas, a key component of the National Electric System (SEN). The breakdown, which occurred at 5:55 a.m. due to a false signal in the turbine's automatic protection system, has exacerbated the daily blackouts already plaguing the population.

Official sources, including state journalist Bernardo Espinosa from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM) and the Director General of Electricity, Lázaro Guerra, have confirmed that the unit is currently in a restart phase after identifying and correcting the issue. However, they cautioned that, as with any unexpected shutdown, the block's restart involves uncertainties requiring continuous monitoring of the system's performance throughout the day.

“Guiteras has commenced its restart process. The cause of the shutdown was identified as a false signal, and the ignition has begun anew,” Guerra detailed in the morning news segment.

Generation Deficit Intensifies Blackouts

The shutdown of the Guiteras, coupled with other issues in thermal and distributed generation, has led to an operational collapse within the SEN. According to a report on the state company's website, as of 7:00 a.m., the availability was 1,590 MW against a demand of 2,755 MW, leaving a midday deficit of 1,236 MW.

Projections for the evening peak are even more alarming, with an availability estimate of only 1,870 MW against a demand of 3,400 MW, potentially resulting in a shortfall of 1,600 MW if the Guiteras fails to successfully reintegrate into the system.

Meanwhile, the Electric Company of Havana announced its blackout schedule for Tuesday on Facebook, indicating block outages throughout much of the day with possible additional rotations after midnight:

• B4: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• B5: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• B2: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• B3: 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• B1: 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

In addition to the Guiteras, other units are out of service due to malfunctions or maintenance: unit 5 of the CTE Mariel, unit 2 of Santa Cruz, unit 4 of Cienfuegos, unit 6 of Diez de Octubre, unit 5 of Renté, and unit 6 of Nuevitas. The latter may return to the system by June 21.

Recurring Failures and Undefined Maintenance

The Guiteras' plight is not an isolated event. On May 23, the plant also went offline due to a malfunction in the regenerative air heater caused by the interruption of the alternating current motor. Although it was repaired, the restart process took several hours, causing a chain reaction of disruptions to the national system.

Compounding the problem, the plant is due for a 72-hour technical stop to repair its high-temperature reheater, as confirmed by its directors days ago. No specific date has been announced yet, as it depends on the “availability of the electrical system,” a statement that only heightens uncertainty and frustration among Cubans.

Water Overconsumption and Unfunded Promises

Technical problems are compounded by the growing overconsumption of fresh water by the plant, reaching 50 cubic meters per hour, directly affecting the water supply to the city of Matanzas, according to a Facebook report by state journalist José Miguel Solís.

The installation of a desalination plant is proposed as a long-term solution, but its implementation hinges on yet-to-be-secured funding.

A Summer Without Relief

With temperatures soaring above 33 degrees, insufficient energy support, and a national system on the brink of collapse, the onset of summer in Cuba promises a season of extended blackouts, unbearable heat, and public outrage.

Without a clear schedule, structural solutions, and a population increasingly weary of the lack of electricity, the Guiteras symbolizes not only the fragility of the Cuban electrical system but also the government's inability to ensure essential basic services.