The Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Antonio Guiterasthe largest and most efficient generation unit block in the country, will be disconnected from the National Electronergetic System (SEN) at least until June, according to executives from Ministry of Energy and Mines (Minem).
In one of the meetings of the permanent work commissions of the National Assembly of Popular Power (ANPP), The deputy minister of the sector, Juan Torres Naranjo, explained that Guiteras would be generating during the summer months, but “it will operate with low reserve levels,” according to a report of the Cuban News Agency (ACN).
Now | Industry, Construction and Energy Commission of @Cuba Assembly??, and other parliamentary commissions, current situation and perspectives of the national electro-energy system, as a follow-up to the plan of measures derived from the highest supervision of the @EnergiaMinasCub pic.twitter.com/p26CgnQ7nR
— National Assembly Cuba (@AsambleaCuba) March 14, 2023
During the exchange, the officials presented data on the shutdowns of the block during the last three years. 48% of these interruptions were related to boiler problems; 35% with the automatic control system and 17% are included as “other causes”.
The manager assured that the work to recover the turbine’s low-pressure rotor will last until May, and that they depend on the assistance of foreign technicians.
However, Torres Naranjo indicated that the facilities continue to work with existing resources to resolve the effects in the estimated time.
“Based on the strategy designed to increase maintenance loads in the months of January to April, the reduction in the hours affected by the total electrical service and by consumer was achieved,” said Elaine Moreno Carnet, director of Minem cadres, cited by ACN.
According to Minem estimates, for the month of March an average of three hours of affectation is expected during the hours of maximum demand.
The entry of unit 1 of the CTE Felton with 230 megawatt (MW) was also reported, as well as the restructuring of the floating plants, the synchronization of unit 6 of the CTE Mariel with 50 MW and the completion of the installation of 104 MW of fuel engines received from Venezuela.
The Cuban government foresees an average of three hours of blackouts until May
For April and May, they forecast the incorporation of unit 4 of the CTE Céspedes and the completion of the rehabilitation of the Mariel and Moa engines, a situation that could vary in the event of breakdowns in the units or low availability of distributed generation due to lack of fuel.
Although she has experienced a slight improvement, the electricity generation It continues to be one of the biggest problems currently facing the Cuban government, in the midst of a deep economic crisis.
During the last few days, the generation deficit has remained above 500 Megawatts (MW), and according to the most recent report issued by the Unión Eléctrica (UNE), this Tuesday it reached 648 MW during peak demand hours.
The effects on the supply during the day lasted for more than 18 hours, a situation mainly caused by failures in five generation blocks throughout the country, and maintenance work in another three, and the technological limitations to generate 373 MW of the installed capacity.
The UNE forecasts a very similar situation for this Wednesday, with an affectation to the supply of around 610 MW during the so-called peak hours.
