The Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE) does not foresee any affectations to the service this Sunday after the synchronization on Saturday of the Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) Antonio Guiterasthe largest unitary block in the country, and the generation capacities of the ENERGAS “Puerto Escondido” plant, in Mayabeque.
After a maintenance process that lasted more than three months and a failed start At the beginning of last week, the CTE Guiteras finally synchronized the National Electric System (SEN) this Saturday before noon, reported from Matanzas the journalist José Miguel Solís.
In this first phase of commissioning, parameters and systems are adjusted for a period of 72 hours, enough to detect any failure and undertake the final adjustments that allow stability in the operation of the unit, said engineer Rubén Campos, director of the Guiteras.
In principle, the block generated just over 30 megawatts (MW), but late Saturday night it rose to 200 MW, according to reports by José Miguel Solís. These generation levels have been maintained throughout Sunday, in which it has achieved acceptable levels of stability. Guiteras is expected to reach a maximum power of 230 MW in the coming days, a vital contribution to face the summer months.
The plant entered a maintenance process since February, when its last break occurred. Due to the complex state of the unit, which in recent years has suffered repeated breakdowns, the UNE decided to extend the work “at least until June”, according to authorities reported last March. Then, thanks to the advancement of these actions, the possibility of its start-up at the end of May was handled.
In that maintenance period a collapse in chimney of the thermoelectric, fact that cost the lives of two workers and caused injuries to two others, but did not stop work at the plant.
After its synchronization with the SEN, Guiteras is expected to maintain its stable contribution until the end of the year, when there will be another “more in-depth maintenance that would return the high levels of generation and stability,” said journalist José Miguel Solís.
In addition to Guiteras, the SEN also managed to integrate this Saturday ENERGAS “Puerto Escondido”, whose generation is around 200 MW, as reported by Canal Caribe. Said plant experienced a failure “in the compressor system” two weeks ago, which caused the temporary suspension of manufactured gas service in various areas of Havana, as well as the stoppage of electricity generation.
The synchronization of CTE Guiteras and ENERGAS contributes around 400 MW to the SEN, which for this Sunday has an availability of 2,825 MW for peak hours, in which a maximum demand of 2,600 MW is estimated. This leaves the system with a reserve of 225 MW, so no effects on the electrical service are foreseen if the expected conditions are maintained, according to the daily part of the UNE published in national media.
