The repair of the thermal power plant Antonio Guiteras in Matanzas could take at least 72 hours, following the malfunction that caused its unexpected shutdown and the disconnection of a significant part of the National Electroenergetic System (SEN).
According to Román Pérez Castañeda, the technical director of the plant, the rupture of a pipe in the lower area of the boiler caused a water leak, loss of gas tightness, and a fire that was quickly controlled by the Fire Department, with no additional major damage reported, the official journalist Miguel Solís reported on Facebook.
The shutdown of the Guiteras—the country's largest generation unit—resulted in a loss of electrical service throughout the system, from the western region of Las Tunas to Pinar del Río.
According to the executive, the restoration of generation will not be immediate. First, the fault must be accurately located, the repair method defined, and the necessary corrective work carried out. Subsequently, the unit will be started up and synchronized with the national system.
"The process could take at least 72 hours," said Pérez Castañeda; although authorities have stated that efforts are being made to restore part of the electrical service as soon as possible.
The prolonged outage of the Guiteras, considered crucial for the stability of the National Electric System (SEN), foreshadows days of severe electrical disruptions in a country that was already facing a significant generation deficit before the incident.
The National Electric System is going through a structural crisis characterized by frequent breakdowns, fuel shortages, and technical limitations accumulated over the years.
On several previous occasions, failures at Guiteras have triggered massive and prolonged blackouts, given its strategic importance within the Cuban energy matrix.
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