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The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant in Matanzas continues its maintenance work with the aim of synchronizing next Wednesday—and checking how long it will operate until its next "unforeseen" shutdown—to the National Electric Power System (SEN).
The information was published by the official journalist José Miguel Solís on his Facebook profile, where he detailed the progress of the plant and the pending tasks before its integration into the electrical system.
Engineer Román Pérez Castañeda, the technical deputy director of the thermoelectric plant, explained that the cleaning of the regenerative air heaters and the work on the high-temperature reheater have been completed, while hydraulic tests are being conducted this Tuesday.
If the checks are satisfactory, the cleaning of a significant part of the boiler, the repair of more than fifty valves, and the final adjustment in the feeder will proceed, the specialist specified.
Maintenance of the largest unit block in the country encompasses over 500 corrective actions, including a review of the automatic, electrical, and auxiliary equipment systems, with the aim of contributing around 200 megawatts to the national electric system once synchronized.
The central, regarded as the most important in the system, has been the site of repeated breakdowns and outages, reflecting the accumulated deterioration and instability of the national electrical system.
Last Saturday, the Guiteras had to exit the SEN during the early morning hours, due to minor maintenance, according to official sources.
The authorities insisted that the maintenance should "last for a period of around four days."
One day earlier, the regime postponed the announced maintenance of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, due to the inability to stop the facility without worsening the already fragile balance of the national electric system, affected by daily blackouts and generation deficits.
The official journalist Solís reported at that time that, “in accordance with the evolution of the national electro-energy system and the industry,” it was decided to postpone the technical shutdown of the plant for at least 48 hours. The announcement had been officially made last Friday.
In September, the General Director of the Unión Eléctrica de Cuba (UNE), Alfredo López Valdés, confirmed that the Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant, located in Matanzas, will cease operations at the end of this year for six months of major maintenance.
López identified the main causes of the current problems as the "accumulated lack of maintenance" and the "lack of regulation" of the electrical system.
For this reason, he announced that the maintenance plan will have a "large scope" and will be crucial for extending the plant's lifespan.
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