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Cuba has postponed the announced maintenance of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant in Matanzas due to the inability to shut down the facility without exacerbating the already fragile balance of the national electric system, which is affected by daily blackouts and a generation deficit.
Official journalist José Miguel Solís reported on Facebook that, “in line with the evolution of the national electro-energy system and the industry,” it was decided to postpone the technical shutdown of the power plant for at least 48 hours.
According to the explanation, the plant maintains a generation of 120 megawatts, despite experiencing significant water loss in the boiler.
Engineer Román Pérez Castañeda, technical deputy director of Guiteras, indicated that despite the failure, they could "continue operations within the new timeframe" and at the same time "outline more details of the critical path," which refers to the general maintenance plan.
Hours before that announcement, the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant itself had published on its official profile that it was ready to begin the scheduled shutdown, scheduled for four days, “as soon as the conditions of the national electrical system allow it and in coordination with the MINEM, UNE, and the National Load Dispatch.”
The technical statement detailed that the main reason for the intervention is the high water consumption due to a leak in a high-pressure line, and that more than 500 activities were planned: valve repairs, condenser cleaning, maintenance of automatic, electrical, and combustion systems, among others.
The plant management assured that it has enough water for cooling, available technical equipment, reinforced safety measures, and even the presence of firefighters in case of any eventuality.
Even so, maintenance has been temporarily suspended. The implied explanation is simple: the country cannot do without the 120 megawatts provided by Guiteras, an aging unit that has been barely supporting the national electric system for years.
In recent months, it has experienced multiple breakdowns, unexpected stops, and leaks that have necessitated constant interruptions in its operation.
A few days ago, the unit had been partially shut down for parts replacement work, following a series of breakdowns that revealed the structural deterioration of the plant.
The authorities explained that the intervention was necessary to prevent further damage, although the complete maintenance was postponed due to a lack of stability in the network.
Shortly after, another interruption due to a breakdown took the Guiteras offline again, necessitating the distribution of the load among other less efficient units and increasing blackouts throughout the country.
The pattern of recurrent failures demonstrates the regime's inability to sustain a facility that, despite its age, remains one of the country's primary sources of generation.
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