The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas has once again been disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN) following a malfunction in a steam tempering line this Friday.
Pro-government journalist José Miguel Solís shared on Facebook that the plant was taken offline to address a leak found in this piping system.
According to Elmer García Romero, the plant's technical deputy director, the repair work on the faulty line is anticipated to be completed within a few hours.
The specialist highlighted that the issue lies with an external line and confirmed that the power plant might be able to restart operations soon, as the boiler has maintained its temperature.
"The restoration of the damaged pipe could be finished in a matter of hours," Solís reported, citing the technical deputy director's explanations.
The Guiteras plant's disconnection further decreases the electricity generation capacity of the SEN, amid ongoing challenges of breakdowns, maintenance, and capacity shortages across various thermoelectric units in the country.
As of now, there has been no announcement regarding the exact time when the plant will be able to reconnect with the electrical system. The official journalist stated that more updates on the repair progress will be provided.
This latest breakdown comes just days after the Guiteras plant had successfully rejoined the SEN. On October 4th, the power plant managed to synchronize and generated over 100 MW after several days of technical work.
Prior to this recent rejoining, the technical deputy director Elmer García Romero had explained that specialists were engaged in welding, metallographic checks, and pneumatic and hydraulic tests on the plant's high-temperature reheater.
The instability of the unit had become apparent by the end of September. On the 28th, the Guiteras plant was once again taken offline just hours after reconnecting, due to a leak in the front wall of the burners.
Frequently Asked Questions about Guiteras Power Plant Outages
Why did the Guiteras power plant disconnect from the grid?
The plant was disconnected due to a malfunction in a steam tempering line, which required immediate repair.
When is the Guiteras plant expected to reconnect to the SEN?
The repair work is expected to be completed in a few hours, allowing the plant to potentially restart operations shortly.
What measures were undertaken before the recent outage?
Prior to the outage, specialists conducted welding, metallographic checks, and pneumatic and hydraulic tests on the high-temperature reheater.