The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant announced on Tuesday its intention to complete ongoing repairs by July 8, aiming to reconnect with the National Electric System (SEN) the following day. This comes amidst Cuba's severe electricity crisis.
This announcement was shared on the plant's official Facebook page, just a day after the country experienced its seventh nationwide blackout in 18 months. Monday's failure resulted in an available supply of approximately 1,000 MW against a demand of nearly 3,100 MW, leaving a deficit exceeding 2,200 MW.
Since July 3, the Guiteras plant has been out of operation, marking its 17th shutdown in 2026. Specialists have been working on fixing the boiler's economizer, which has become the main issue for Cuba's largest thermoelectric facility.
According to plant data, this system has caused half of all this year's failures and is responsible for the last five consecutive shutdowns. Between January and May alone, the economizer's malfunctions led to 293 hours of downtime.
In June, over a hundred faulty welds were replaced in an attempt to reduce failures, but the problem persists.
Román Pérez Castañeda, the plant director, acknowledged that a comprehensive overhaul, requiring at least 180 days of downtime and involving the replacement of around 500 tubes and 1,000 to 1,200 welds, is the only definitive solution. However, he admitted that the country’s current situation doesn’t allow for such an intervention.
Having operated for over 38 years, the plant hasn't undergone a full maintenance since 2010. Although Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy promised this overhaul by late 2025, it was postponed due to "temporary issues" and announced again in April this year without a specific start date.
The System's Fragile State and Limited Relief
As the SEN struggles to recover from Monday’s blackout, the addition of the Guiteras plant could bring about 200 MW more to the grid.
While this would provide some relief, it is insufficient to address the structural deficit plaguing the nation. The crisis is exacerbated by a fuel shortage: Cuba has not received oil shipments for over three months, producing only around 40,000 barrels per day, which falls far short of the 90,000 to 110,000 barrels needed to sustain the electrical system.
On Tuesday, efforts continued to reconnect the SEN through an electric corridor from Mariel to Sancti Spíritus, while the eastern regions awaited the activation of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Thermoelectric Plant. In Matanzas, where Guiteras is located, some areas have endured up to 87 consecutive hours without power so far in July.
Cuban Public's Skeptical Response
The announcement of Guiteras’ expected return sparked a wave of skepticism on social media.
"It'll be back on the 10th," a user joked.
Another summed up the sentiment shared by many Cubans, who are used to the plant's frequent breakdowns: "It comes back on the 9th, goes out on the 13th; returns on the 20th, leaves on the 24th; back on the 31st, out on the 4th, and so on."
These reactions highlight the growing mistrust among the population towards official statements about the electric system's stability, after enduring months of prolonged outages and repeated breakdowns at the country's main thermoelectric plant.
Understanding Cuba's Electrical Crisis
What is causing the frequent shutdowns of the Antonio Guiteras plant?
The primary cause of the frequent shutdowns is the malfunction of the boiler's economizer, a critical component responsible for numerous failures.
Why is a comprehensive overhaul of the plant not feasible currently?
A full overhaul isn't feasible due to the country's current economic situation, which prevents the necessary large-scale repairs from being undertaken.
How does the fuel shortage affect Cuba's electricity generation?
The fuel shortage severely limits Cuba's ability to generate electricity as the country produces far less oil than needed, exacerbating power shortages.