The latest update from the Electric Union (UNE) released this Friday highlights an unexpected detail: the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, which was disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN) early Thursday due to a boiler leak, is conspicuously missing from the list of malfunctioning, under-maintenance, or out-of-service units.
Located in Matanzas, the plant is the largest single generator within the SEN and was taken offline at 4:58 AM on Thursday. Its director, Román Pérez Castañeda, indicated that repairs could take three to four days, contingent on the severity of the damage. However, no announcement has been made regarding its reconnection to the grid.
What stands out is that despite this situation, the projected deficit for peak hours on Friday is reduced to 1,619 MW, down from the 1,991 MW recorded as the maximum impact at 9:20 PM Thursday. There remains a lack of official explanation for this improvement.
Current Energy Demand and Supply
According to the UNE report, as of 6:30 AM on Friday, the SEN's availability was 1,241 MW against a demand of 2,800 MW, with 1,565 MW affected. By midday, the anticipated impact was 1,350 MW. For the evening peak, UNE forecasts include the addition of Unit 6 from CTE Mariel with 70 MW, Unit 1 of CTE Felton—in startup process—Unit 3 from CTE Renté with 50 MW, and six engines from the Moa fuel site with 90 MW, raising the estimated availability to 1,601 MW against a peak demand of 3,220 MW.
Units Facing Technical Issues
Among the units with reported issues are Unit 6 of CTE Máximo Gómez, Unit 1 of CTE Ernesto Guevara De La Serna, Unit 2 of CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez, and Unit 5 of CTE Antonio Maceo, all out of order. Undergoing maintenance are Unit 1 of CTE Lidio Ramón Pérez, Unit 5 of CTE Mariel, Unit 6 of CTE Renté, and Unit 5 of CTE Nuevitas. Additionally, 246 MW are offline due to limitations in thermal generation. Notably, Guiteras is absent from all these categories.
The SEN connects regions from Pinar del Río to Holguín, while Santiago de Cuba, Granma, and Guantánamo operate on isolated micro-systems awaiting the activation of Unit 1 of CTE Felton.
Impact of Guiteras Disconnection
The Guiteras disconnection on Thursday triggered a partial SEN collapse at 6:09 AM, leaving the central and eastern parts of the country, from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo, without electricity. This marks the ninth malfunction of Guiteras in 2026, occurring just five days after its resynchronization with the SEN on May 9, following a 90-hour shutdown and nearly 300 corrective actions.
The same boiler leak issue had previously sidelined the plant on May 5, indicating that the earlier repair did not address the fundamental problem. The plant has been without major maintenance for over 15 years, the last being in 2010, and its director has acknowledged the need for at least a 180-day shutdown for such maintenance, although he admitted that "the country's situation doesn't allow it yet."
The energy scenario is dire. Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, has openly admitted that Cuba "has absolutely no fuel, diesel, only accompanying gas," describing the situation as "acute, critical, and extremely tense."
FAQs on Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why is the Antonio Guiteras plant significant?
The Antonio Guiteras plant is the largest individual generator in Cuba's National Electric System, making its operation crucial for meeting energy demands.
What caused the recent power outages in Cuba?
Power outages were primarily triggered by the disconnection of the Antonio Guiteras plant due to a boiler leak, leading to a partial collapse of the National Electric System.
How is Cuba addressing its energy shortages?
Cuba is attempting to manage energy shortages by bringing additional power units online and conducting maintenance on malfunctioning units. However, the lack of fuel and other resources complicates these efforts.