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The Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest power generation unit in the country, could resume energy production on Saturday night if the repair work, ongoing for several days since its unexpected disconnection from the grid, is completed. This disconnection caused a general blackout.
In a post shared on Facebook, the plant announced that the technical work is progressing and that the recovery process is now in its final stage.
"In Guiteras, not a second has been wasted," states the message, which explains that from the early hours of the morning, workers are focused on restoring the refractory furnace of the so-called "nurse," a part of the fuel supply system of the plant.
The note states that the work has already entered the final phase.
"It is expected to be turned on in the coming hours, and once all parameters are met, synchronization will take place in the evening hours this Saturday," it concludes.
Last Wednesday, a failure in the Guiteras caused the disconnection of the National Electric System (SEN) from Camagüey to Pinar del Río, as reported by the Electric Union (UNE).
"The disconnection is due to the unexpected exit of the CTE Antonio Guiteras caused by a leak in the boiler at 12:41. All protocols for the restoration of the SEN have already been activated," the report noted.
Subsequently, the General Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lázaro Guerra Hernández, specified that the unexpected shutdown of the thermoelectric plant caused service interruptions from the western area of Las Tunas to Pinar del Río, while the system remained connected from the eastern part of Las Tunas to Guantánamo.
The official added that protocols were implemented for the gradual restoration of the SEN and that, as a consequence of the technical incident, the radio and television signal was also temporarily interrupted in several areas of the country.
On that day, the UNE announced the start of recovery operations for the system with the activation of Energás Boca de Jaruco, one of the key facilities for restarting electricity generation.
Work was also being done to supply power to unit 3 of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric power plant, with the aim of initiating the startup process of that facility.
The authorities also indicated that unit 1 of the Lidio Ramón Pérez thermoelectric plant, known as Felton, was operational and supplying energy only to the eastern region of the country.
The UNE stated that the recovery process of the national electrical system would progress gradually, through technical protocols aimed at synchronizing the generating plants again and restoring the electrical grid in the country.
Vicente de la O Levy, Minister of Energy and Mines, reported on X that they were "working on the restoration of the SEN amidst a complex energy situation. The ENERGAS Boca de Jaruco restart has already begun. Felton 1 continues to generate."
The possible return of the Guiteras takes place amidst a deep energy crisis that has left much of the country enduring prolonged blackouts.
Additionally, the electrical system has been operating with a significant generation deficit, which has forced service cuts in numerous provinces.
The situation reflects years of technical deficiencies, lack of investment, and insufficient maintenance that have made the SEN a highly vulnerable system to any breakdown.
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