Unit 3 of the Thermoelectric Central (CTE) Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, in Cienfuegos, is close to synchronizing the national electrical system, after satisfactorily completing this Saturday safety tests to boiler equipment.
According to a report by the thermoelectric company of Cienfuegos in its social networks, “the operation of the forced shooting fans, gas recirculators, air gates in addition to automatic”, a necessary process prior to the start and synchronization of the generating block.
According to the source itself, last Monday, April 14, another control had already been carried out when the boiler had and reach up to 190 degrees of temperature in the oven, reaching a even heating.
In this way, only the final adjustments in the turbine remain, pending a test valve test. After this step, the “important, necessary and complex” period of “technological intervention” of the unit will conclude, which began in the last quarter of last year.
In October 2024, after one of the total disconnections of the SEN that left all Cuba without electricity, the plant presented problems in turbine and was out of circulation.
During this repair process he had a serious setback in January of this year, when a fire occurred in the control rooms that caused “serious damage” in the two units of the Cienfueguera CTE. An electrical accident was the cause of fire, which did not cause injuries or fatalities.
Despite the fire, units of the Cienfuegos thermoelectric plant maintain their entrance plan to SEN
The incident affected cables and switches “that feed the auxiliary equipment of the plants”, as well as food pumps, condensate, in addition to equipment “which are basic for operation”, explained at the time the general director of the Electric Union (UNE), Alfredo López Valdés.
Despite the effects, the authorities did not modify the planned dates of entry to SEN of the Céspedes after repairs. Everything seems to indicate that, in the first instance, the deadlines and unit 3 of the CTE will be fulfilled, it could contribute more than 150 MW to the country before ending April.
On the other hand, in Unit 4 maintenance work continues in Caldera, where it presented severe damage. Problems such as overheating and reheating misalignment caused pipe failures. The works include the replacement of exchangers and the rehabilitation of auxiliary equipment, an effort that, according to current plans, will culminate in June.
The energy deficit continues to rise
According to him Daily report From the UNE, this Sunday a maximum demand of 3350 MW and an availability of only 1654 MW is forecast, so the generation deficit in the peak time will be 1766 MW, one of the highest registered in recent months.
The departure of Unit 5 of Nuevitas and the 1 of Felton for a salidero in the boiler complexizes the situation of the SEN, which also has out of circulation due to breakdowns or maintenance to generating units of Mariel, Nuevitas, Santa Cruz and Renté, in addition to the aforementioned Cienfuegueras plants.
Output of Felton Unit 1 adds pressure to electricity generation for this Saturday
Thermal generation limitations amount to 265 MW, while those of distributed generation are 490 MW because 77 centrals do not provide fuel deficit service. To add that they do not have the 54 MW of the rule pin and that 82 MW are also unavailable due to lack of lubricants, explains the part of the UNE.
On Saturday a 1570 MW deficit was scheduled, but shot up to 1678 for the aforementioned unforeseen exits of Nuevitas and Felton. The service was affected 24 hours and remained like this or throughout the morning.
The affectation by blackouts has been uploading in recent days what has been reflected in the usual interruptions of the electrical service for long hours in many areas of the country which paralyzes industries and causes discomfort in people.
The island suffers from a serious energy crisis, which is reflected in the four national blackouts that have affected the electrical service in less than six months. The last one occurred in mid -March when most of the nearly 10 million Cubans were without service a weekend.
