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The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant went offline this morning at 4:12 AM, according to a report by the Electric Union on Facebook: the cause was a "porous spot in the economizer," a small hole in a metal tube that prevents proper water circulation and forces the unit to halt.
This is at least the ninth or tenth failure of the plant so far in 2026, in a context where the electrical deficit nearly reached 2,000 MW on Saturday and on Friday, Unión Eléctrica projected a deficit between 1,840 and 1,915 MW for the nighttime peak.
A "poro" is a perforation caused by corrosion, erosion, or accumulated thermal fatigue in the tubes of the economizer, the boiler component that preheats the feedwater by utilizing the residual heat from the combustion gases.
When that leak appears, the pressure in the system drops, and the unit must be taken offline from the National Electric System for repairs, a failure that is especially common in aging equipment without component replacement.
La Guiteras, inaugurated in 1988 in Matanzas, has been operating for more than 36 years without significant maintenance, which explains the recurring failures in the boiler and its components.
The plant was synchronized on May 18 following repairs that included faulty tubes in the high-temperature reducer, faulty tubes in the economizer, and issues with airtightness in the furnace floor.
Just six days earlier, on May 14, a leak had occurred in the boiler causing a record deficit of 2,174 MW and blackouts from Ciego de Ávila to Guantánamo.
The citizen reaction to the UNE post was a mix of irony, resignation, and open criticism.
Yariel Ruiz identified the pattern: "As usual on Sundays, with good news to justify what they are going to impose on you during the week."
Iso Bie pointed out the political coincidence: "After every march, congress, fandango, they prescribe Guiteras or Felton."
Jose Eligio Villalon Faurest resorted to a television metaphor: "Another chapter jjjj. This series has no final episode."
Yiselis Torres Perez summarized the general sentiment: "What awaits us today is unbelievable with you," while Disnei Zamora responded sarcastically, "What joy, since we never have electricity."
Evys Doce was more direct: "Gather your courage and say that you won’t pay the bills anymore... after all!!"
Eduardo Cadaval asked what many are thinking: "Gentlemen, but how long will this last?" and Yunior Gonzales Cabrera pointed directly at the power structure: "RAUL IS RAUL WITH THE BLACKOUTS AT HIS SIDE."
The shutdown on May 5 was already considered the seventh breakdown of the year, and each shutdown has triggered blackouts across the country, with moments when 70% of the island was left without electricity simultaneously.
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