To Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Antonio Guiterasthe largest of its kind in Cuba, 266 repair, maintenance and cleaning actions will be carried out to recover its generation capacity, before being synchronized again to the National Electroenergetic System (SEN), according to official media.
The electricity generating plant located in the western province of Matanzas had been disconnected unexpectedly this Tuesday due to the “loss of parameters” in its turbine, according to what was reported then by the Electrical Union (UNE) of the island.
The entity announced that, in addition to correcting this problem, it would work “immediately on the solution of the leak in the boiler that had already been detected previously, due to the large consumption of water.”
Román Pérez Castañeda, investment specialist of what is also the most efficient unitary bloc in the country, explained that the main tasks will be directed in this direction, reports an office of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
The director assured that brigades specialized in cleaning the condenser and boiler, belonging to the Power Plant Maintenance Company (EMCE), are working at the plant, which will work 24 hours a day in two shifts, adds the publication.
Taking into account experiences in this type of situation, the expert considered that the stoppage could be extended for three or four days.
Meanwhile, journalist José Miguel Solís, correspondent for the Radio Rebelde station in Matanzas, noted on his Facebook profile that, given the difficult situation currently facing the SEN, the sector authorities gave a maximum margin of 56 hours to the unit’s workers to solve the vacuum deficit in the turbine.
The CTE Guiteras has the advantage of consuming national crude through the pipeline, but at the same time the use of this type of fuel generates more dirt in its boiler and the need for more continuous cleaning in order not to lose generation capacity.
According to the report, at the time of its unforeseen shutdown, it was steadily contributing around 200 megawatts to the SEN, although its nominal capacity exceeds 300 MW.
With the important plant out of the system, the UNE reported that this Tuesday the service was affected due to a deficit in generation capacity during 24 hours a day, with a peak figure of 1,220 MW at peak hours, around 7:50 p.m.
In addition to Guiteras, the report issued this Wednesday reports that seven units throughout the country are out of service due to breakdowns: units 6 and 7 of CTE Mariel, unit of CTE Otto Parellada, unit 4 of CTE Nuevitas , units 1 and 2 of the CTE Felton and unit 6 of the CTE Rente, in Santiago de Cuba.
Synchronization to the system was expected on the day of unit 3 of the CTE Rente, with a contribution of 50 MW, but even with this incorporation it was estimated that the deficit would reach 1106 MW during peak hours.
The situation of electricity generation in Cuba continues to be very tense, and the island’s government has already announced that these circumstances would last until the end of the year, when the first results of the strategy outlined to overcome the complex panorama are expected.
Reaching a solution is currently a priority objective for the executive headed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, since the prolonged and annoying blackouts continue to be one of the fundamental causes of social discontent in the country and of the protests that have taken place in recent weeks in various locations on the island.
