The Unit 5 of the Antonio Maceo Thermoelectric Plant, also known as Renté, located in Santiago de Cuba, was taken offline this Wednesday afternoon following a reported malfunction. According to official sources, the Cuban Electric Union stated that at 5:59 p.m., a "leak in the feed water station" led to the disconnection of the unit.
The available communication did not specify the estimated time for recovery, the extent of the impact on power generation, or any additional underlying causes related to the malfunction. Until further official updates are released, details regarding the diagnostic and repair processes required for the unit's return to service remain awaited.
Recent Challenges at Renté Plant
Throughout this week, multiple issues have kept the Renté plant from operating fully. A fire in the early hours of Sunday hampered the fuel oil generator groups at the Santiago de Cuba plant amid the nation's ongoing energy crisis. The blaze began around 1:00 a.m. on September 21, when flames were observed in the auxiliary generation facilities using heavy fuel oil.
Promptly, firefighting forces from commands 1 and 4, based in Martí and Vista Alegre, were dispatched, along with water tankers from Agua Santiago, Red Cross teams, and technical brigades from the Electric Union (UNE).
Series of Failures Affecting Energy Supply
This fire occurred just hours after Renté's Unit 5 was taken offline due to a furnace leak at 6:50 a.m. on Saturday. The previous day, Unit 3 of the same plant also went offline merely 11 hours post-synchronization due to a "low vacuum" issue.
These successive failures have left Renté with virtually no stable capacity to contribute to the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), despite being a critical power source in eastern Cuba. The UNE forecasted this Wednesday that during the evening peak hours, the availability would be 2,010 MW against a maximum demand of 3,650 MW, resulting in a deficit of 1,640 MW. With the Renté unit out of service, this shortfall is expected to worsen, potentially reaching an impact of around 1,710 MW.
Understanding Cuba's Power Challenges
What caused the shutdown of Unit 5 at Renté?
The shutdown was caused by a leak in the feed water station, which led to the disconnection of the unit.
How is the energy deficit affecting Cuba?
The energy deficit, worsened by Renté's shutdown, could result in a shortfall of up to 1,710 MW, impacting the availability of electricity during peak hours.
What measures were taken during the fire at Renté?
Firefighting teams, water tankers, Red Cross, and technical brigades were deployed to tackle the blaze in the auxiliary facilities.