Restart of Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Aims to Ease Cuba's Power Crisis

Following an unexpected shutdown that led to yet another widespread blackout in Cuba, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant located in Matanzas initiated its restart process on Wednesday. The goal is to generate electricity by 8:00 p.m. after addressing a technical malfunction in the automatic control system of a valve.

Engineer Román Pérez Castañeda, the technical deputy director of Cuba's largest single-unit block, indicated that the success of this endeavor relies heavily on the stability of the sub-electrical system that supplies the plant. This information was shared by journalist José Miguel Solís on social media.

Pérez emphasized that the restart is a complex procedure managed and observed from the national load dispatching center. This monitoring is crucial to balance power generation with consumption and to maintain the electrical frequency at appropriate levels, not only within the plant but across the entire western subsystem.

Efforts to Stabilize Isolated Subsystems

Since the early morning disconnection from the National Electric System (SEN), intensive efforts have been made to consolidate isolated subsystems, referred to as "islands," in key regions such as Havana and Cienfuegos. These subsystems have prioritized power for hospitals, water supply centers, and other critical services, successfully restoring electricity in several circuits of Matanzas.

The initiation of the restart process at the Antonio Guiteras marks a significant step towards reinforcing the western microgrid. If the process is successful and system stability is maintained, there is an expectation to energize more circuits in the coming hours, aiming for a potential full reconnection of the SEN.

Importance of the Guiteras Plant

The operation of the Guiteras plant, considered one of the pivotal facilities in Cuba's energy system, is essential to mitigating the nation's ongoing electricity crisis. Nonetheless, experts caution that success hinges on the subsystems' ability to sustain a balance between power generation and consumption.

The Electric Union previously assured that the Guiteras plant did not incur any damage during the shutdown and was operating under stable conditions prior to the disconnection. Additionally, no damages to the plant or incidents involving workers were reported following the power system's disconnection.

Nationwide Impact of the Blackout

The nationwide blackout that struck Cuba in the early hours of Wednesday exacerbated the already severe energy crisis of recent months and resulted in a major internet connectivity drop, causing widespread frustration among the population. Independent group Diktyon, which monitors internet conditions on the island, shared a graph on social media depicting a sharp decline in cyber traffic at 2:08 a.m., coinciding with the SEN disconnection.

Despite these challenges, Minister of Transport Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila reported that transportation services remain operational thanks to extraordinary measures and backup systems. Meanwhile, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel maintained a positive outlook despite the electrical collapse that plunged the nation into darkness. His optimism, however, was not well received by citizens weary of the ongoing lack of solutions.

On social media, Díaz-Canel stated he is closely monitoring the restoration of the SEN, and that Electric Union workers are tirelessly working towards reconnection. However, despite the leader's optimistic stance, the government suspended classes and non-essential work across Cuba in response to the latest widespread blackout.