A new failure in the excitation mechanism prevented the synchronization of the Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Antonio Guiteras with the National Electric System (SEN), so Cuba will experience another tense day of blackouts due to the generation deficit, according to official media reports on the island.
According to explained to Cuban News Agency (ACN) Misbel Palmero Aguilar, general director of the largest and most efficient unitary block in the country, the setback occurred during the start-up process, after having been without generating due to faults detected in the boiler area.
“We are currently working on diagnosing the problem in the excitation system with the help of a foreign specialist,” said Palmero Aguilar.
The problems of the Guiteras, which have been frequent so far this year, have worsened in recent days, from the collapse suffered by the SEN after Hurricane Ian passed through western Cuba, a situation that left the entire country without power generation capacity.
After this situation, old difficulties in the excitation system and in the boiler area prevented its return to the SEN, which significantly hampers the possibilities of covering the energy demand in all the territories.
In such a way, the Electrical Union (Une) announced through its social networks that the conditions that the previous day led to a generation deficit of 1,540 megawatts (MW) during peak hours will be maintained, and it forecasts affectations for this Tuesday due to a lack of 950 MW during daytime hours.
The entity informs that in addition to Guiteras, located in the western province of Matanzas, units 6 and 7 of the CTE Mariel, the CTE unit Otto Parellada, unit 4 of the CTE Nuevitas, are out of service due to breakdowns. unit 2 of CTE Felton and units 4 and 6 of CTE Renté. It also specifies that unit 3 of the CTE Rente is undergoing maintenance, so the limitations on thermal generation are set at 462 MW.
The UNE also points out that in distributed generation, 1,084 MW are unavailable due to breakdown and the generation capacity of another 685 MW is affected by maintenance work.
For peak hours, it is estimated that the Puerto Escondido unit will enter the system with a contribution of 20 MW, which would be added to the 80 MW generated from diesel engines. However, it estimates an availability of 1,875 MW and a maximum demand of 3,197 MW for the peak hour, which would cause an affectation of 1,392 MW at this time; of these, 110 MW for the damage caused by Hurricane Ian.
The capacity to generate electricity is one of the most serious problems facing the current Cuban government, and the reason for several protests in various parts of the country in recent times, although the ones on July 11 and 12 also took place for this reason. 2021, which had a wide impact.
This critical situation is influenced by the obsolescence of most of the generating plants, the shortage of parts and pieces for repairs, and the lack of fuel necessary for the operation of some alternatives that cannot consume national crude oil.
