The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, Cuba's largest power station, will remain offline this Sunday from the National Electrical System (SEN) due to newly discovered water leaks in its boiler. These issues were identified during a hydraulic test conducted Saturday evening, as reported by state journalist José Miguel Solís.
Solís detailed that Sunday's efforts are focused on welding and addressing the malfunction, with another hydraulic test necessary to ensure the repairs are sound before attempting to restart the plant.
As of 2026, this marks the 16th time the Guiteras has been disconnected from the SEN.
Ongoing Challenges for the Guiteras Plant
Located in Matanzas, the plant exited the grid on June 24 at 5:48 p.m. due to water loss in the boiler exacerbated by ongoing issues with the economizer. This occurred just two days after its return on June 22.
Specialists worked through Saturday on fixing three damaged tubes in the economizer, but the nighttime hydraulic test revealed that boiler problems persist.
Recurring Failures and Lack of Maintenance
The plant follows a troubling pattern: it leaves the grid, undergoes partial repairs, briefly returns to operation, and then fails again. From January to May 2026, the Guiteras was offline for 293 hours solely due to economizer defects. It has not received major maintenance in over 15 years, with the last overhaul in 2010, leaving a technical debt that includes repairing about 500 tubes and between 1,000 and 1,200 weld seams.
Each new breakdown at the Guiteras directly impacts a population already enduring an unprecedented electrical crisis.
Widespread Power Deficits Across Cuba
On June 25, Cuba experienced its largest recent power deficit: 2,208 MW at 8:50 p.m., affecting over 70% of the national territory.
Lázaro Guerra Hernández, General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, projected a deficit of 2,165 MW for Saturday's nighttime peak, according to official reports.
Contributing to this structural deficit are 106 distributed generation plants offline due to diesel shortages—resulting in a loss of 890 MW—and another 1,203 MW inactive in key facilities because of fuel scarcity.
Matanzas, where the Guiteras is located, has suffered up to 85 consecutive hours without electricity in June, while Havana endures blackouts lasting 22-24 hours daily.
Before its June 24 outage, the plant provided 250 MW of stable generation to the SEN, a critical slice of a system teetering on the brink of total collapse.
Solís's statement encapsulates the stark reality: "It is estimated that the unit will not join the system during this Sunday."
Understanding the Guiteras Power Plant Crisis
What is causing the ongoing issues at the Guiteras Power Plant?
The Guiteras Power Plant is plagued by recurring boiler and economizer failures, compounded by a lack of major maintenance since 2010, resulting in frequent disconnections from the national grid.
How does the Guiteras plant's failure affect Cuba's electricity supply?
Each failure at the Guiteras plant exacerbates Cuba's power crisis, contributing to significant electricity deficits and prolonged blackouts across the country, impacting daily life and economic activities.
What measures are being taken to address the power plant's issues?
Current measures include welding and repair work on damaged components, alongside hydraulic tests to ensure the effectiveness of repairs. However, the lack of comprehensive maintenance remains a critical challenge.