The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant has once again been disconnected from Cuba's National Electric System (SEN). On Thursday, the Electric Union (UNE) confirmed that after cooling down the boiler, plant workers are now focused on pinpointing the exact cause of this latest malfunction.
This outage is linked to the fifth total collapse of the SEN that occurred on Tuesday at 11:05 a.m., during which a new issue at the thermoelectric plant was identified.
According to UNE, the team is tackling the problem on three fronts: locating the malfunction area—identifying the precise source of the failure; conducting integrity tests—to rule out additional damaged tubes and ensure a lasting repair; and repair and restart—once the issue is resolved, the plant will be reintegrated into the SEN.
The pattern has become all too familiar in Cuba: a partial repair, a brief return to the SEN, followed by another breakdown in the same critical area.
In 2026 alone, the plant has experienced at least 17 unscheduled disconnections from the SEN, many attributed to the same component: the economizer of the boiler, which has been in continuous operation for 38 years in a highly corrosive environment, accounting for 50% of all plant shutdowns.
A permanent fix would require replacing approximately 500 tubes and performing between 1,000 and 1,200 welds during a shutdown lasting at least 180 days—an operation deemed unfeasible by authorities. The plant has not undergone major maintenance since 2010, accumulating 16 years without comprehensive intervention.
While workers at Guiteras search for the faulty tube, the plant is organizing a "100 Years with Fidel" campaign, promoted by the Young Communist League, with events scheduled from July 13 to August 13.
FAQs on Guiteras Plant Failures
What is the main cause of the frequent breakdowns at the Guiteras plant?
The repeated failures are primarily due to the economizer of the boiler, which has been in operation for 38 years in a corrosive environment, leading to frequent shutdowns.
Why has a permanent repair not been implemented at the Guiteras plant?
A comprehensive repair would require replacing around 500 tubes and conducting extensive welding, necessitating a shutdown of at least 180 days, which authorities consider unviable.
How often has the Guiteras plant been disconnected from the SEN in 2026?
The plant has faced at least 17 unplanned disconnections from the SEN throughout 2026, many due to issues with the boiler's economizer.