The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant, which operates in the city of Matanzas, left the National Electric System, as confirmed by the authorities after noon on Monday, which increases the impact in the country to 1,246 MW and ensures the programming of more blackouts. “The unit was left without a sufficient water supply to maintain operations,” reported the government of Matanzas in its social networks.
Local authorities also explained that “water is supplied by pipe to the Central and is pumped”, but still “it is not enough to keep it running, so it had to go out of operations.” The Guiteras thermoelectric plant has been affected by the fire that began this Friday in the industrial zone of Matanzas, after lightning, according to the official version, started a fire in one of the fuel tanks, which has already been transmitted to others. two deposits.
“Its entry is not expected for the hour of maximum demand,” warned, for its part, the Electric Union of Cuba (UNE), which insisted that the recovery of the thermoelectric plant “will depend on the availability of water levels,” although in another note he said that “about 12 hours are expected for it to start again. However, actions are already being carried out to reduce this time.”
However, the water supply will take longer than expected, the authorities acknowledged, due to the leaks that the thermoelectric presents, which demand a larger supply than usual.
“Your entry is not expected for the hour of maximum demand,” warned the Electric Union of Cuba
The UNE also reported that due to the exit of the Matanzas plant “it was necessary to increase the impact to 200 MW in Havana, and the restoration of this load will depend on the availability conditions of the National Electric System.”
Last Saturday, 12 hours after the explosion, the Government had announced that the thermoelectric plant, located about 10 kilometers from the Matanzas Supertanker Base, had fuel to operate for two days, since pumping from there had been suspended at largest Cuban central.
The Electric Union predicted blackouts that day due to a deficit of 35% of the demand, which was maintained until this Monday when the Guiteras had to stop.
Power outages, due to failures and breakages in old-fashioned thermoelectric plants, lack of fuel and scheduled maintenance, are becoming more frequent in Cuba. In July, blackouts were recorded on 29 of the 31 days, according to data from the UNE.
The situation, which weighs down all areas of the economy and significantly affects daily life, began to fuel social discontent, which is why several protests have been reported throughout the island.
Last year the blackouts were one of the reasons behind the July 11 anti-government protests, the largest in decades, according to analysts.
Cuba relies heavily on foreign oil to produce energy (thermoelectric plants generate two-thirds of the electricity) and its main supplier, Venezuela, has notably reduced its shipments.
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