Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Reconnects with National Electric Grid, Gradually Boosting Output

The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant successfully reconnected with Cuba's National Electric Grid (SEN) at 4:48 p.m. on Sunday. Earlier that day, the plant had been offline due to a control power failure at a nearby substation. State media journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso reported on Facebook that the plant was progressively increasing its output. Despite the positive development, it provides little relief to residents who have faced power shortages exceeding 1,600 MW, resulting in prolonged blackouts across several provinces.

According to Rubén Campos Olmos, the general director of the Antonio Guiteras plant, the facility is in the process of ramping up its generation. "We are in a very unstable and complex period," he noted, as the plant is currently producing 50 megawatts with an aim to reach 250 MW, the output level before the grid disconnection. This update was shared by the Girón newspaper on their Facebook page.

Challenges Facing the Power Grid

The power outage at the Antonio Guiteras plant, Cuba’s largest electricity generator, was attributed to a failure in the electrical control supply at a nearby substation. Journalist José Miguel Solís mentioned on Facebook that the unit is in the startup phase and could potentially reconnect with the SEN shortly. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to contribute 250 MW, easing the country's severe power deficit.

Engineer Rubén Campos Olmo elaborated on the issue in an interview with CubaDebate. He explained that the main switch at the substation opened, disengaging the plant from the grid, and added that no technological or electrical protections were triggered at the plant itself. Preliminary assessments indicated a voltage control failure at the substation, which might have caused the switch to open. Additionally, a damaged battery in a high-pressure valve system was quickly repaired.

Ongoing Maintenance and Power Shortages

A partial maintenance schedule is planned for May to thoroughly inspect recent failures, clean the boiler, and adjust auxiliary equipment. Despite these efforts, Cuba is grappling with a power deficit projected to exceed 1,600 MW, exacerbating fears of widespread blackouts.

The power system has been strained by malfunctions at the Renté, Felton, Diez de Octubre, and Santa Cruz del Norte plants, alongside maintenance work at Santa Cruz, Cienfuegos, and Felton. Additionally, thermal limitations have left 189 MW offline, and a fuel shortage has affected 466 MW of capacity.

The Cuban Electric Union reported that the central-eastern region experienced the most significant disruption on Sunday, with a national peak of 1,621 MW out of service. This adds to several days of power interruptions exceeding 1,500 MW.