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Unit 1 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez Thermoelectric Power Plant (Felton) in Mayarí successfully synchronized with the National Electric System (SEN) on Friday night, after being offline due to a malfunction since February 11, according to the Electric Union of Cuba (UNE).
The incorporated block could contribute around 230 megawatts (MW) to the national electricity system, which would represent a slight improvement in power generation. However, this increase is not enough to stabilize a system that, at peak hours, faces a deficit exceeding 1,600 MW, affecting millions of Cubans with prolonged blackouts nationwide.
The newspaper Granma reported that unit 1 of Felton has been disconnected from the system due to the activation of a generator protection. According to the official organ of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), "after seven days of cooling down, the cause of the failure was determined," but no information was provided about it.
After a seven-day cooling process and the corresponding technical evaluations, specialists determined the cause of the failure and began synchronization tests, which successfully concluded on Friday night, explained Edier Guzmán Pacheco, Functional Director of Thermal Generation at UNE.
Without specifying what the last breakdown was for the thermoelectric plant officially inaugurated by General Raúl Castro on January 5, 2001, customers of the state electricity monopoly (all Cubans) hope that it will continue to operate and not suffer another failure.
However, the despair and indignation of the population continue to grow over time, in light of the lack of initiative and effective actions on the part of the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel, who is wholeheartedly dedicated to performing propaganda juggling.
2025: The year began hot in Felton
The CTE Felton has been one of the most affected by technical failures in recent months, which has worsened the energy crisis in Cuba. Since January 2025, unit 1 has experienced several disconnections:
- January 30, 2025: Unit 1 of Felton was disconnected from the SEN for a scheduled maintenance period of ten days, which included cleaning of air heaters in the boiler and inspection of turbine components.
- February 7, 2025: After maintenance, the unit successfully synchronized with the system again, contributing its generation capacity.
- February 11, 2025: A new malfunction in the generator's cooling system forced its immediate withdrawal from the National Electric System (SEN), resulting in even more blackouts on the island.
- February 17, 2025: After cooling the turbine, technicians began the inspection and repair of internal components of the generator.
- February 26, 2025: UNE reported that the unit was ready to resume operations on February 27, after completing repairs. Shortly after posting this forecast, the state journalist José Miguel Solís deleted the original post and shared another "clarifying" text to "not raise false expectations".
Finally, on March 1, the unit was able to synchronize with the SEN, but the electrical crisis on the island persists, and uncertainty among Cubans grows regarding when the Holguin plant will experience another failure. Along with the Guiteras plant in Matanzas, it has been the focus of the massive blackouts suffered across the country.
Electric crisis in Cuba: Multiple units out of service
Despite the return of Felton 1, electricity generation in Cuba remains insufficient. The UNE reports that several plants are still out of service due to breakdowns:
- Unit 5 of the CTE Máximo Gómez (Mariel).
- Unit 1 of the CTE Ernesto Che Guevara (Santa Cruz del Norte).
- Unit 5 of the CTE Diez de Octubre (Nuevitas).
Other blocks in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cienfuegos, and Santiago de Cuba are also under maintenance, in addition to 76 distributed generation plants affected by a lack of fuel.
With an energy deficit exceeding 1,600 MW during peak consumption hours, the situation remains critical for Cubans, who are facing extended daily blackouts with no short-term solution in sight.
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