"Faulty pipes have been identified in the high-temperature reheater and in one of the water walls of the Antonio Guiteras thermal power plant boiler in Matanzas," reported journalist José Miguel Solís on his Facebook profile this Thursday, amid prolonged blackouts affecting the population and causing social unrest throughout the country.
Solís stated that, according to the consulted specialists, “it only takes 72 hours to resolve the issue.” He added that engineer Román Pérez Castañeda “noted that work is ongoing in both areas of the boiler in twenty-four-hour shifts, tasks that outline the critical path of this emergency shutdown.”
The report indicates that it is now time for "the completion of the welding work, the metallographic controls, and the pneumatic and hydraulic tests, which take approximately six hours and determine the commencement of the boiler ignition, a moment set for the end of Friday."
According to the publication, during this maintenance "more than a hundred corrective tasks have been carried out which, according to specialists, should address the weakest part of the industry, the boiler."
La Guiteras, the largest unified electric generation block in the country, was disconnected from the National Electric System on Tuesday due to a boiler failure, just four days after it had been reconnected following another breakdown. In July, it has accumulated three serious failures, according to the Electric Union. The boiler has gone more than 35 years without undergoing major maintenance, which highlights the deterioration of this strategic plant inaugurated in 1989.
The shutdown of Guiteras coincides with massive blackouts across Cuba. Users report outages of more than 20 hours daily, food loss, and a lack of water amidst high temperatures. The situation has sparked a wave of indignation on social media, with open criticism towards the government regarding the energy crisis.
Frequently asked questions about the malfunctions of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant
Why is the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant out of the National Electric System?
The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant is offline from the National Electrical System due to boiler failures. These failures, which include leaks and deterioration in the high-temperature reheater pipes, have been recurring due to a lack of capital maintenance for over 35 years. The situation has led to massive blackouts and discontent among the Cuban population.
How long will it take to repair the breakdown at the Antonio Guiteras power plant?
It is estimated that the repair of the breakdown in the boiler at the Antonio Guiteras power plant will take around 72 hours. This time includes welding work, metallographic inspections, and pneumatic and hydraulic tests. However, the history of previous failures and accumulated deterioration creates uncertainty about meeting this deadline.
What is the main cause of the frequent failures at the Guiteras thermoelectric plant?
The lack of capital maintenance for over 35 years is the main cause of the frequent failures at Guiteras. The obsolescence of its components, such as the high-temperature reheater, has led to ongoing breakdowns that affect its electricity generation capacity and contribute to the energy crisis in Cuba.
How do the breakdowns of the Guiteras affect the Cuban population?
Failures at the Guiteras power plant have caused massive blackouts in Cuba, severely affecting the daily lives of the population. The extensive power outages have led to food loss, water shortages, and extreme heat conditions, creating social discontent that has manifested in protests across various regions of the country.
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