The regime must be keeping its fingers crossed that this time the outcome will be different: the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric power plant, the largest in Cuba, initiated a cold start this Monday at 10:17 in the morning, after receiving power from the national grid, with the hope of synchronizing with the National Electroenergetic System (SEN) in the early hours of the evening.
Specialists consulted by journalist José Miguel Solís confirmed that due to the cold start, the connection to the SEN could take place late on Monday night, although the recent history of the plant in Matanzas offers little reason for optimism.
La Guiteras had gone offline on July 26 due to failures in the economizer and the low-temperature reheater, which necessitated extensive welding work and three hydraulic tests to ensure that the issues were resolved.
The Electric Union, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and several districts of the power plant maintenance company mobilized their best technicians with the goal of keeping the plant operational until the onset of winter, emphasized the official journalist.
The outage comes at a time of acute electrical collapse. Cuba experienced its sixth nationwide blackout in 2026 on Sunday night, when the UNE confirmed a new total disconnection at 10:43 PM.
Hence, this situation, combined with the history of failures of the Guiteras, has led to widespread skepticism among the population.
The comments on social media in response to the announcement of the start reflect the accumulated frustration after months of openings and closures of the plant.
How many minutes will it last?, asked José Enrique De Los Ríos. “Give it 72 hours and it's gone,” Adolfo Rodríguez Rodríguez declared.
"Old is old, even if you patch it up. If you don't add new things, it will still be the same old mess," wrote Yeins Mesa.
Other users reported the extent of daily suffering. “Here, in Pueblo Nuevo, Matanzas, we haven't had power for 50 hours, ” denounced Maria De La C Medina. “I am at 48 hours of blackout and counting,” added Jose Alberto Portela Aportela.
Clau Vane Matos was more direct: «This one provides power everywhere but Matanzas».
«In short, we don't get out of one fall of the SEN to enter another. Nothing, we are going for more. God willing, this one lasts a little longer», summarized Yolanda Espino Galvan what millions of Cubans feel every time a new start of the Matanzas plant is announced.
Related videos:
Filed under: