Technical Setback at Antonio Guiteras Power Plant Delays Its Integration into the National Electric Grid

A recent technical issue at the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas has postponed its planned synchronization with the National Electric Grid, which was originally scheduled for Friday. According to Rubén Campos Olmos, the plant's general manager, a hydraulic test revealed a malfunction on the right side of the boiler wall, specifically at the third level of the burners.

"The situation is complicated because we need to construct scaffolding to reach the problem area, which is 20 meters high," Campos Olmos explained to the Girón newspaper. Repair efforts commenced at 7:00 a.m. today, with an estimated duration of about ten hours. Once these repairs are complete, another hydraulic test will ensure there are no further leaks before reigniting the system.

Challenges of Boiler Maintenance

Campos Olmos mentioned that there were already concerns about potential issues due to the nature of the malfunction. "When a boiler undergoes such a shutdown, it often develops cracks due to high-temperature stress. These stresses travel through the structure, impacting weaker pipes. That's why we emphasized the importance of the hydraulic test. Had we not identified this issue, we could have already been operating two burners," he stated.

Implications for the National Electric Grid

Due to this latest setback, the Guiteras plant won't be operational during the evening's peak electricity demand as expected. Instead, its synchronization might occur by early Saturday morning. On a positive note, Campos Olmos reported that the boiler at unit one of the CTE Felton has been successfully ignited, which is beneficial for the grid. "When Felton is online, it reduces power outages by nearly five hours, whereas Guiteras accounts for six hours," he noted.

The Antonio Guiteras plant's disconnection from the National Electric Grid shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday—barely 24 hours post-returning to the grid after another issue—triggered a crisis exacerbated by ongoing malfunctions and fuel shortages. It is important to note that this is the most significant power plant in the country. Its disconnection in October and December 2024 led to massive blackouts that plunged Cuba into darkness.

Ongoing Energy Crisis in Cuba

Despite a forecast of 1,436 MW for power outages today, Cuba's energy situation remains dire. Yesterday, services were disrupted for 24 continuous hours, extending into this morning. The maximum recorded impact was 1,678 MW at 6:40 p.m., surpassing the 1,575 MW predicted by the Unión Eléctrica (UNE).

Currently, seven thermoelectric units are out of service due to failures or maintenance—two fewer than yesterday. The CTE Guiteras and unit 2 of the CTE Felton are currently offline due to breakdowns. The unit 2 of the CTE Santa Cruz, units 3 and 4 of the CTE Cienfuegos, unit 1 of the CTE Felton, and unit 5 of the CTE Renté are undergoing maintenance.

Meanwhile, several Havana municipalities were without power this Friday morning due to an Automatic Frequency Load Shedding (DAF) event. The Havana Electric Company communicated this via their Telegram channel, explaining that the measure activates when the grid's frequency reaches critical levels, threatening the stability of the National Electric Grid.