The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, situated in Matanzas city, aims to connect to the National Electric System (SEN) during peak demand hours on Wednesday, contingent upon favorable weather conditions, as stated by its director, engineer Rubén Campos Olmo. "We have the personnel, resources, and the determination to work around the clock. Hopefully, the weather won't thwart our efforts," expressed Campos Olmo, emphasizing that some tasks are performed outdoors and could be disrupted by adverse weather.
Despite rainfall on Monday morning, work progressed as scheduled, confirmed the director in a radio interview shared on social media by state journalist José Miguel Solís. At present, the plant's team is concentrating on approximately 400 corrective measures, mainly focusing on the boiler. Campos Olmo mentioned that tasks such as cleaning the boiler and repairing a rotor leak have been completed. Additionally, air regenerative heaters (CAR) have been cleaned, potentially recovering about 15 megawatts of additional power.
"Although with slightly less depth, we're also addressing the condenser to reduce water consumption," added the director of the country's largest generating unit. Forecasts from the thermoelectric plant indicate that if synchronization is achieved on Wednesday, the facility could contribute around 270 megawatts to the SEN, partially easing the country's energy deficit.
Recently, Cuba's Electrical Union reported severe blackouts and a deficit exceeding 1,000 megawatts, impacting broad regions across the nation. The Antonio Guiteras plant was disconnected from the grid due to a boiler malfunction last Saturday. Solís noted that the plant was taken offline at 9:59 am due to control valve failures after 45 days of operation.
According to the reporter, repair teams from the National Electrical Maintenance Company and the Matanzas unit are addressing the unexpected thermal machine breakdown. The Guiteras plant has undergone frequent maintenance in recent months due to recurring malfunctions, contributing to the island's ongoing energy crisis. Its outages have often led to system-wide failures and widespread blackouts across the island.
Understanding the Guiteras Power Plant Challenges
What are the main issues facing the Antonio Guiteras plant?
The plant frequently experiences malfunctions, particularly in its boiler and control valves, necessitating regular maintenance and leading to disruptions in the power grid.
How much power is the Guiteras plant expected to contribute to the SEN?
If synchronization is successful on Wednesday, the plant is projected to contribute approximately 270 megawatts to the National Electric System.
What is causing the energy crisis in Cuba?
The crisis is primarily due to frequent outages and maintenance issues at major power plants like Guiteras, leading to a significant energy deficit and widespread blackouts.