The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) has announced a major delay regarding the return of unit 1 at the Felton Thermoelectric Power Plant to the National Electric System (SEN). This unit went offline on Tuesday due to a malfunction and will remain out of service for approximately 20 days.
Located in Mayarí, Holguín province, Felton 1 experienced a failure in the generator's cooling system. UNE officials stated there is a significant leak that poses a high risk to the operation, necessitating immediate intervention. The repair process will start with a seven-day period for the turbine to cool down, after which the generator's casing will be disassembled to identify and fix the issue.
Endless Power Outages
This development is dire news for Cubans who have been enduring severe power outages for weeks. The situation worsened with the temporary loss of the Antonio Guiteras plant from the SEN. Although the plant in Matanzas rejoined the grid on Saturday, it couldn't operate at full capacity until Monday, offering little relief from the persistent blackouts across the nation.
UNE's update on Tuesday painted a bleak picture: Cubans experienced 1,614 MW of power cuts on Monday, with an expectation of at least 1,460 MW of outages during nighttime the following day, even before Felton 1 went offline. At the time of the report, six thermoelectric units were out of action due to breakdowns or maintenance. Among the affected were unit 1 of the Santa Cruz plant and unit 2 of Felton, while maintenance was ongoing for units 2 of Santa Cruz, 3 and 4 of Cienfuegos, and 5 of Renté.
Felton 1 was taken offline at 9:38 a.m. on February 11 due to a "false alarm from the generator's hydrogen sensor." The frequent failures of the power plants have sparked outrage among Cubans, who view these issues as an insult to their resilience and patience.
Posts by the UNE and journalist José Miguel Solís, which initially celebrated Felton 1's synchronization with the SEN on that same Tuesday, were deleted after the unit went offline again, this time for nearly three weeks.
Brief Return to Service
The Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Plant (Felton) had reconnected to the National Electric System last Friday after more than a week of downtime. Felton was disconnected on January 30 for planned maintenance. Four days later, workers had only managed to clean 5,620 of the over 22,000 tubes in its condenser, roughly 25% of the total. Maintenance tasks included major valve repairs, boiler scale removal, air heater cleaning in the boiler and condenser, and inspection of two turbine bearings.
In addition to the aging thermoelectric plants, fuel shortages continue to be a significant challenge for the regime in meeting energy demand in the country. With Felton 1 now offline again, the situation becomes even more complicated.
The Felton plant, whose unit 2 suffered a fire in 2022 and has been under repair since, along with the Antonio Guiteras plant, are major contributors to the National Electric System, each generating about 220 MW. Recently, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero stated during a Ministry of Energy and Mines meeting that the government aims to revitalize and maximize the exploitation of the country's four refineries. They also plan to increase national crude oil production for export and electricity generation.
Marrero reiterated the promise that the installation and activation of numerous photovoltaic solar parks will help alleviate power outages by next summer, potentially providing up to 1,200 MW of generation.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis
Why is the Felton power plant important to Cuba's energy supply?
The Felton power plant, along with the Antonio Guiteras plant, is one of the largest contributors to the National Electric System, providing about 220 MW of power. Its operation is crucial for meeting the country's electricity demands.
What caused the recent outage at the Felton power plant?
The outage was caused by a significant leak in the generator's cooling system, which required immediate intervention to prevent high-risk operation.
How are fuel shortages impacting Cuba's energy situation?
Fuel shortages complicate the ability of the Cuban regime to meet energy demands, as they limit the operation of power plants and contribute to ongoing power outages.