The floating power plant for the generation of electricity that recently arrived in Havana is in the test phase for the start-up in the next few days of its six engines, according to official media on the island.
This is the seventh plant of its kind contracted by the Cuban government to the company Karandeniz Holding, of Turkeywith the objective of minimizing the affectations to the electricity service in the country caused by a notable generation deficit in the National Electric System (SEN).
According to a report by Cuban television, at the current stage, checks have been carried out on the operation of the equipment and three of the engines have already served loads to the SEN.
This medium remembers that these mobile electricity generation systems have been operating in Cuba since 2019, when the first of them arrived on the island thanks to the agreement signed with the Turkish company. The newly arrived plant is located in areas of the Havana bay and according to what has been reported, it has the capacity to contribute around 100 megawatts (MW).
During a meeting of the president Miguel Diaz-Canel with Turkish businessmen, held in Istanbul as part of the recent international tour of the Cuban president, Karandeniz Holding executives explained that they are in a position to continue supporting electricity generation on the Island and recognized the professionalism and preparation of the specialists from the Caribbean nation.
On his Twitter account, Díaz-Canel emphasized this Tuesday that the country’s complex energy situation continues to be a priority for the government and a reiterated topic in the exchanges held during visits to Algeria, Turkey, Russia and China last week.
I share the assessments of the Minister of Energy and Mines, @VicentedelaO2. The energy issue was a priority on the work agenda of our tour of Algeria, Turkiye, Russia and China. In each country visited we found receptivity, support and cooperation.https://t.co/raRyIG8VTt
— Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez (@DiazCanelB) November 29, 2022
In this sense, the owner of the Ministry of Energy and MinesVicente La O Levy, explained that the authorities of those countries were very receptive to the situation with all of them, talks were held to resume the supply of fuels for the operation of thermoelectric plants, and implement projects mainly focused on renewable energies.
In China, in particular, actions were specified to resume “the photovoltaic parks that were stopped due to lack of financing, as well as to analyze and make payment conditions more flexible so that investments continue,” said the minister, aforementioned by the website of the Presidency of Cuba.
In turn, it ratified “the commitment to reduce the effects on the population in the month of December.” However, a few days before entering the last month of the year, the effects on the service due to the generation deficit continue and this Tuesday the National Electric Union (UNE) predicted that during the day the SEN will not have the capacity to generate the necessary 850 MW to avoid cuts in the supply of electricity, and that this figure would reach 1179 MW during the hours of greatest demand.
In its most recent part on the country’s electro-energetic situation, that organization indicates that the Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Antonio Guiterrasthe most efficient and with the greatest generation capacity in the country, which recently underwent a process of repair and maintenance.
Units 6 and 7 of the CTE Mariel, unit 4 of the CTE Nuevitas, unit 2 of the CTE Felton and unit 5 of the CTE Rente are also stopped due to damages and breakages.
Unit 3 of the CTE Santa Cruz, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas and units 3 and 4 of the CTE Renté remain undelivered to the SEN due to maintenance work, while there is a generation limitation of the plants in operation of 258 MW.
The Une specifies that in distributed generation, 953 MW are unavailable due to failure and another 690 MW due to maintenance. 690 MW under maintenance. In turn, it is estimated that for the so-called peak hours, unit 5 of the CTE Nuevitas will be incorporated into the system with a contribution of 100 MW.
