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The Cuban Electric Union (UNE) reported a new malfunction at the 10 de Octubre Thermoelectric Power Plant in Nuevitas, in the province of Camagüey.
On the morning of this Tuesday, block number 5 was disconnected from the National Electric System (SEN) due to a leak in the boiler. Since the afternoon, after a cooling process, work has been ongoing tirelessly for its repair, according to the state-owned company on its social media.
"Since the afternoon hours today, after a cooling process, work has been ongoing without interruption on the boiler of block #5 of the Nuevita CTE, in the province of Camagüey, which was disconnected from the National Electric System in the morning due to a leak in the boiler," the UNE stated on Facebook.
Simultaneously, block number 6, which currently generates 55 MW, is operating under limitations due to a leak in the seawater pipes.
According to the company led by Alfredo López Valdés, the issue is also being addressed in order to restore its full capacity, and the plant personnel have committed to bringing both units back to operation as soon as possible.
Current State of the SEN and Blackouts in Cuba
The Cuban electrical system is experiencing a deep crisis, characterized by prolonged blackouts and constant breakdowns in the country’s major thermal power plants.
According to recent reports, power outages have been exceeding 1,200 MW in impact during peak demand hours, occasionally reaching record levels of over 1,700 MW.
The unexpected outage of power generation blocks has been a constant issue, forcing the UNE to implement extensive electricity cuts in several provinces.
History of breakdowns and maintenance at the CTE of Nuevitas
The 10 de Octubre power plant in Nuevitas has experienced a history of recurrent failures and extended maintenance, contributing to the worsening energy crisis in Cuba. Below, CiberCuba provides a chronological summary of the most significant events:
- December 2022: The dismantling of block 3 of the power plant begins, which had been out of service for several years due to the lack of equipment for its repair. The measure aimed to free up space and resources for the maintenance of the remaining blocks, although it did not represent a real solution to the energy crisis.
- March 2024: The UNE suspends operations at the thermoelectric power plant for "scheduled maintenance" which is expected to last until the end of April. During this period, repair work was conducted in continuous shifts with the intention of restoring a generation capacity of 100 MW to the system. However, these efforts did not succeed in stabilizing the plant's operation.
- May 2024: Unit 6, after being under maintenance for 77 days, is synchronized to the SEN, but less than 24 hours later, it goes out of service again due to new technical failures. This event highlighted the fragility of the repairs performed and the inability of the power plant to maintain stable operation.
- May 2024: An official media outlet described the continuous outages of Cuban thermoelectric plants as "normal", including that of Nuevitas, claiming they are part of the "life cycle" of these facilities. However, the constant instability of the SEN contradicts this assertion and highlights the precariousness of the Cuban electrical system.
- June 2024: The unit 6 of the thermoelectric power plant discontinues its connection to the SEN due to a new malfunction, further increasing the outages in the country. The frequency of these failures has generated discontent among the population, which demands effective solutions.
- August 2024: Block 6 of the thermoelectric plant is once again offline for maintenance work, focusing on cleaning the boiler. The facility remained out of service for several days, which impacted the stability of the electricity supply in the region.
- January 2025: The unexpected shutdown of unit 5 is reported, exacerbating the electric crisis and pushing blackouts to critical levels in several provinces.
- January 2025: Block 5 of the Nuevitas thermoelectric plant fails again just days later, with impacts exceeding 1,200 MW, highlighting the lack of effective solutions to address the energy crisis.
The history of failures at the CTE in Nuevitas demonstrates that the Cuban electrical system is in a critical state.
Despite repeated maintenance and repairs, the plant continues to experience failures that affect the electricity supply in the country. The lack of investment in infrastructure, combined with the economic crisis facing the island, has hindered the recovery of the National Electric System, creating a landscape of uncertainty and discontent among the population.
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