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The Antonio Guiteras Thermal Power Plant (CTE), located in Matanzas and recognized as the largest and most efficient in Cuba, experienced another outage on Monday, just 24 hours after being synchronized with the National Electroenergetic System (SEN).
The Electric Union (UNE) announced on its social media that the plant was disconnected at 7:39 PM due to a leak in the boiler, a recurring failure in its operational history. According to engineer Rubén Campos Olmos, general director of the CTE, the unit should be able to synchronize with the SEN next Friday, provided the damage is not severe.
"In the event that it is not a major break in the water walls [of the boiler], the possibility of returning during the peak demand period on Friday could be tentatively estimated," noted the executive.
He also explained that, after detecting the malfunction, they proceeded to cool down the boiler to allow for a detailed inspection and address the necessary repairs. Campos Olmos indicated that they have the support of specialized brigades from the Electric Power Maintenance Company, which have already been mobilized to tackle the situation.
This is not the first time that Antonio Guiteras has faced technical issues affecting its operation. In October 2024, an unexpected shutdown of the plant caused a total disconnection from the SEN, leaving the country in a widespread blackout.
More recently, on January 18, 2025, the thermoelectric plant was disconnected from the electrical system due to a boiler failure, which worsened the blackout situation on the island.
La Guiteras, inaugurated in March 1988, is a fundamental pillar in electricity generation in Cuba. Its generation capacity and efficiency make it a key component for the country's electrical supply.
However, the repeated failures and system outages highlight the need for more rigorous maintenance and investments in infrastructure to prevent its collapse and ensure its optimal operation.
Disconnection history of Guiteras due to boiler failures (2022-present)
Since 2022 to the present, the Guiteras has experienced several disconnections from the SEN due to breakdowns in its boiler. Below are some of the most notable incidents:
- August 2022: The Guiteras went offline from the SEN due to a boiler malfunction that caused excessive water consumption. After identifying and repairing the point of failure, the plant was ready to generate approximately 215 MW.
- September 2022: The plant swas disconnected again due to a leak in the boiler. A cooling time of approximately 30 hours was estimated before maintenance work could begin.
- November 2022: The SEN was taken offline due to a boiler malfunction, a situation that had occurred on several previous occasions.
- June 2023: After more than three months of maintenance, the Guiteras suffered a boiler failure less than 72 hours after its restart, which removed it once again from the national electrical grid. A social media user pointed out that the boiler is the biggest issue for the Guiteras. "It has been proven that everything 'fails' at its weakest point. In this case, it doesn’t matter how much work is done on the other systems; the boiler is the major problem, and the more robust the other systems become, the weaker the boiler will be," he argued.
- August 2023: The Guiteras left the SEN to address defects that were affecting its stability and performance, including excessive water consumption and issues with the boiler.
- September 2023: The plant went offline due to a boiler malfunction, just three days after a previous issue had been resolved.
- March 2024: After a shutdown due to a malfunction, the plant re-synchronized with the national electricity grid. The disconnection occurred less than 24 hours after a scheduled maintenance shutdown, and was attributed to "a problem in the boiler and a steam leak in a measuring element of the turbine."
- October 2024: An unexpected outage from the Guiteras resulted in a total disconnection of the SEN, leaving the country in a widespread blackout. Although specific causes were not detailed, this event highlighted the vulnerability of the national electrical system, amid the contingency of Hurricane Oscar.
- November 2024: The plant faced a gas leak in the boiler area, which limited its generation capacity and highlighted ongoing technical issues.
- January 2025: The thermoelectric power plant has been disconnected again due to a boiler failure, worsening the situation of blackouts on the island.
These incidents reflect recurring problems in the boiler of the CTE Antonio Guiteras, significantly affecting the stability of the electricity supply in Cuba.
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