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The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE), located in Matanzas, successfully synchronized with the National Electrical System (SEN) at 9:06 a.m., as reported by journalist Pedro Rizo Martínez via .
Currently, the plant is in the process of increasing its output, with 50 MW supplied to the system and the intention to reach 220 MW before peak demand hours.
“At this moment, they are lifting the load. They are installing the burners and incorporating the auxiliary equipment to begin heating and stabilizing the block. They currently have 50 MW and expect to reach up to 220 MW to stabilize the block during peak demand,” stated Jorge Gómez Chávez, director of the Production Business Unit.
According to the official, no defects have been observed in the work carried out during previous repairs, and auxiliary equipment is being integrated to stabilize the block and ensure its operational capability.
A process marked by uncertainty and repeated failures
The synchronization of the Guiteras takes place after several days of repairs and tests, following the plant's disconnection from the SEN on Sunday, February 4, which caused concern and uncertainty among the population.
Since then, the authorities have issued contradictory reports regarding the causes of the service outage and the status of the repairs, which has heightened distrust in the official announcements about the stability of the electrical system.
Initially, the Cuban Electric Union (UNE) reported that the Guiteras had gone offline without an identified cause, only to later correct this by stating that the disconnection was due to “faults in the electrical supply from a nearby substation.”
Meanwhile, the population has faced prolonged blackouts in various provinces, and the recovery forecasts have been revised multiple times, strengthening the perception of erratic and opaque management.
The thermal power plant in Matanzas has been the subject of numerous failures in recent months, reflecting the structural weaknesses of an outdated, poorly maintained electrical system with no long-term investments.
Its shutdown in October 2024 caused a nationwide blackout, and since then it has been disconnected several times due to boiler malfunctions, pipe leaks, and recurring mechanical failures.
A solution or a temporary stability?
Although the reintegration of Guiteras provides partial relief in electricity generation, its recent track record does not inspire confidence that it can remain stable in the system for an extended period.
The lack of replacement parts, the wear and tear of equipment, and the inability of other plants such as Felton and Nuevitas to maintain a steady load are causing the energy crisis to remain far from resolved.
Meanwhile, the Cuban population continues to face blackouts and an energy crisis with no real solutions in sight. The question is not whether the Guiteras will exit the national grid again, but rather when its next disconnection will occur.
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