The Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant, located in Matanzas and considered the main electricity generation facility in the country, went offline from the National Electric System (SEN) this Friday due to a technical fault in one of its key components. The news was confirmed by the official media outlet Periódico Girón and further elaborated by specialized journalist José Miguel Solís.
According to preliminary information, the system's shutdown occurred due to the failure of the Regenerative Air Heater (CAR B), when its alternating current motor ceased to operate. This component is essential for the thermal efficiency of the energy generation process.
What happened?
Engineer Jorge Gómez Sánchez, production director of Guiteras —the most important power plant in the country due to its unit capacity— explained that the drive group became disconnected from the coupling that transmits rotational movement, which necessitated an immediate halt to operations. The failure occurs at a critical moment for the national electrical system, as it is under significant deficit levels.
A four-hour halt… that leaves the country with no room to maneuver
Although the authorities estimate that the outage will last around four hours, the reality is that with the departure of the Guiteras, the SEN is on the brink of total collapse, as this plant generates a significant percentage of the national electricity under normal conditions.
The good news, according to Gómez Sánchez, is that the location of the CAR B allows for a quick technical intervention, and all necessary logistical support is already in place to carry out the repairs as soon as possible.
"It is expected that once the system cools down, immediate intervention can take place to reactivate generation," reported Periódico Girón.
What is CAR B?
Regenerative air heaters are essential devices in a thermal power plant. They recover residual heat from the combustion gases to preheat the air that feeds the boiler, which:
Increase energy efficiency
Reduce fuel consumption
Improves combustion
Protect the boiler and extend its lifespan
Why is it so serious?
La Guiteras is the plant with the highest unit capacity in the country and one of the few that still supports part of the national thermal generation. Its shutdown brings the National Electric System to the brink of collapse, at a time of structural deficits exceeding 1,500 MW and with daily blackouts occurring across all provinces.
Official projection: Hope in three years?
Despite the critical situation, the Government of Cuba plans to restore its energy capacity within three years, aiming to recover over 500 MW of generation.
According to official figures, it is expected to achieve by 2030:
70% of generation based on domestic fuels,
And 24% of the energy matrix comes from renewable sources.
However, while that horizon arrives, the exit of Guiteras leaves the country plunged into extreme fragility, with an electrical system on the verge of collapse and a population exhausted by power outages.
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