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The Electric Union (UNE) announced that Unit 1 of the Thermoelectric Power Plant, which went out of service this Tuesday due to a malfunction, will not be able to return to the National Electric System (SEN) for about 20 days.
The UNE detailed that Felton 1, located in Mayarí, Holguín province, went offline due to a failure in the generator's cooling system.
They added that "it has a leak that poses a very high risk to the operation of the block and necessarily requires intervention."
The repair process will begin with a seven-day cooling period for the turbine, after which the disassembly of the generator casing will take place to locate and fix the malfunction.
Uninterrupted blackouts
This is very bad news for Cubans, who have already been enduring severe blackouts for several weeks, interruptions that worsened with the departure of the Antonio Guiteras from the national electrical system.
The return on Saturday to the SEN of the Matanzas thermoelectric plant, which could not operate at full capacity until this Monday, has not yet resulted in a significant improvement in the bothersome blackouts in the country.
The report from the Electric Union this Tuesday was extremely discouraging: Cubans experienced 1,614 MW of blackouts on Monday, and for yesterday, they had to expected at least 1,460 MW of interruptions during the night, and this was before Felton 1 went out of service.
Until the time of the UNE report, there were six thermoelectric units out of service due to breakdown or maintenance.
Two units were out of service: Unit 1 of the Santa Cruz power plant and Unit 2 of the Felton power plant. Under maintenance were Unit 2 of the Santa Cruz power plant, Units 3 and 4 of the Cienfuegos power plant, and Unit 5 of the Renté power plant.
The UNE indicated that it was at 9:38 a.m. on February 11 that Felton 1 left due to a "false alarm from the hydrogen sensor of the generator."
Immediately, dozens of internet users erupted against the constant failures of the thermoelectric plant, which they view as an insult to the resilience and patience of the people.
A couple of posts from UNE and journalist José Miguel Solís celebrated the synchronization to the SEN of Felton 1 on Tuesday following the resolution of the issue. Both posts were deleted because Felton 1 went offline again, this time for nearly three weeks.
Just four days connected to the SEN
The Lidio Ramón Pérez (Felton) thermoelectric plant was connected last Friday to the National Electric System after more than a week out of service.
The Felton was disconnected on January 30 for scheduled maintenance.
Four days later, their workers had only managed to clean 5,620 of the more than 22,000 tubes in their condenser, about 25% of the total.
The work included the main valves and the boiler's scoring, cleaning of air heaters in the boiler and the condenser, as well as inspection of two bearings in the turbine.
In addition to the issues with the outdated thermoelectric plants, the lack of fuel remains the regime's greatest challenge in meeting the country's energy demand.
With the reactivation of Felton 1 from the SEN, the situation becomes even more complicated.
The Felton plant, whose unit 2 caught fire in 2022 and has been under repairs since then, is alongside the Antonio Guiteras plant, the largest contributor to the National Electric System, generating around 220 MW of power.
In recent days, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero stated during a meeting of the Ministry of Energy and Mines that the government aims to recapitalize and bring "to their highest level of exploitation" the country's four refineries, as well as "increase national crude oil production for export and electricity generation."
He also insisted on the promise that the installation and commissioning of dozens of photovoltaic solar parks will alleviate power outages starting next summer, contributing up to 1,200 MW of generation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Energy Crisis in Cuba and the Felton Thermoelectric Plant
What is the current status of the Felton thermoelectric plant in Cuba?
The Felton thermoelectric plant, unit 1, is out of the National Electric System due to a malfunction in the generator's cooling system, and it is expected to be out of operation for about 20 days.
What impact do breakdowns in thermoelectric plants have on blackouts in Cuba?
The breakdowns in thermoelectric plants, such as the one in Felton, significantly worsen the blackouts in Cuba, increasing the electricity generation deficit and extending service interruptions to the entire population.
What are the main causes of the energy crisis in Cuba?
The energy crisis in Cuba is due to a combination of factors: the constant breakdowns and maintenance of the aging thermoelectric plants, the lack of fuel, and inadequate planning and investment in electrical infrastructure.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address the electricity crisis?
The Cuban government has announced plans to recapitalize the refineries, increase the production of national crude oil, and establish new photovoltaic solar parks. However, these promises have not yet resulted in tangible improvements in the energy crisis affecting the country.
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