The state-run media outlet Girón has unveiled images of the dilapidated Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in Cuba and also one of the most unstable. In a photo report titled "The Rusted Bones of the Guiteras Can't Hold Much Longer," the regime's press anthropomorphizes the plant, depicting it as an old, worn-out entity, drained of strength. Romanticizing the plight of this failing power station, which frequently exits the grid due to breakdowns, the report and accompanying photos reveal the dismal state of a key component in the nation's electricity generation infrastructure.
Guillermo Carmona Rodríguez, in his article, describes how the Guiteras has been battered by salt and subjected to continuous temporary fixes that fail to address the deterioration of its machinery. "The salt slowly devours the old bones of the vessel. Its metal takes on the texture of coral: pitted and a dull red. When a strong gust of wind blows, tiny shards peel away from the support beams, from the grates that serve as flooring, from the narrow stairways with missing rail segments," he writes.
The Guiteras, featuring French technology, contributes 240 megawatts (MW) to the grid. Although it has the potential to generate up to 320 MW, its capacity has been curtailed after 35 years of operation without substantial investment for full restoration. Technicians, as reported to the state journalist, labor tirelessly at the plant but cannot perform miracles. “If the blackouts currently last 12 hours, when we manage to get back online, they would drop to six,” Román Pérez Castañeda, one of the interviewed workers, remarked. “We face risks due to the height and because we work with fire; but these can be managed," another worker added.
Meanwhile, the regime continues to funnel the majority of the state budget into tourism, while essential services like electricity, water, and gas are neglected. Cuba's energy crisis worsens by the day, and the collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) seems to have no immediate resolution in sight.
The Electric Union (UNE) report this Friday indicated a generation shortfall throughout the previous 24 hours, with no improvement by the early hours of February 28, 2025. At 7:00 AM on Friday, the SEN's availability stood at 1,520 MW, while demand reached 2,315 MW, resulting in an 882 MW shortfall in power supply. The midday forecast predicts a deficit of 1,150 MW, with the central-eastern region of the country most affected.
For peak demand hours, the UNE projected availability at 1,695 MW against a demand of 3,250 MW, leading to a shortfall of 1,555 MW and an estimated impact of 1,625 MW, again hitting the central-eastern region of Cuba hardest.
The Energy Crisis and Antonio Guiteras Plant
What is the current state of the Antonio Guiteras power plant?
The Antonio Guiteras power plant is in a state of disrepair due to salt corrosion and lack of substantial restoration efforts, leading to frequent breakdowns.
How does the power plant's condition affect electricity generation in Cuba?
The plant's compromised condition reduces its capacity to generate electricity, contributing to prolonged blackouts and significant power shortages across the country.
What are the projected electricity deficits in Cuba?
Cuba's National Electric System is currently facing a significant shortfall, with a projected deficit of 1,555 MW during peak demand hours, most severely affecting the central-eastern region.