Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant will connect to the grid "as soon as possible."

The disconnection of the national power system (SEN) from the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant (CTE) in Matanzas will be resolved "as soon as possible," according to plant managers who estimated an approximate deadline of 30 hours to solve the detected problem.

This was expressed by engineer Román Pérez Castañeda, technical deputy director of the CTE, in statements to the official journalist José Miguel Solís, affirming that the repair works were progressing without major setbacks.

This Saturday, the Guiteras was disconnected from the National Electrical System (SEN) after an oil leak was detected in the generator's lubrication system. Technicians from the Matanzas unit assured Solís that the Guiteras would begin contributing electricity to the SEN on Sunday evening.

The stop of no more than 30 hours is extensively used to repair pumps and auxiliary equipment, and above all, in the cleaning of the CARS, that is, the regenerative air heaters, an element that determines the increase in the unit's power," explained the official journalist on his social networks.

Engineer Pérez Castañeda added that "the progress of the repair work indicates the possibility of starting up as soon as possible." This Saturday, Engineer Rubén Campos Olmos had explained that the repair should take about 30 hours.

Likewise, it was announced that a planned shutdown of about four days will take place soon, allowing it to generate 280 MW during the months of June and July.

Last week, the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel admitted that there were no guarantees that the summer months would pass without disruptions to the electricity service. "There may be a blackout at a specific time, and we will work to ensure that they are not prolonged, that they are not long-lasting," he said.

Díaz-Canel reiterated what was announced by the Electric Union (UNE) days before, that power outages will increase in June due to the increase in maintenance work at the thermoelectric plants, in an effort to ensure service in July and August.

"We will have extended maintenance until the month of June in order to minimize the inconvenience of blackouts in the summer, especially in the months of July and August," he pointed out.

According to the director of UNE, Alfredo López Valdés, no maintenance works have been planned for any thermoelectric plant in July, which does not mean that things are going to work well. "We are going to have the breakdowns that normally occur in the system, we are going to have the limitations that normally occur in the system," he said.

In mid-April, the Guiteras synchronized with the SEN after almost five days out of service due to a breakdown in the boiler. The UNE had announced that the plant would stop for maintenance on three Mondays, but the work was extended to five. According to the information, the facility had "defects in the boiler."

The Matanzas thermoelectric plant has been going in and out of the system for a long time due to continuous breakdowns and malfunctions, amid an energy crisis that has kept the population experiencing power outages of up to 18 hours in some areas.