Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez visited the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant in Matanzas last Saturday as part of a nationwide tour to assess the recovery of the National Electric System (SEN). The plant, a cornerstone of Cuba’s energy infrastructure, is currently operating below its maximum capacity of 250 MW due to a failure in its high-temperature reheater. This issue has forced a reduction in its operating load, highlighting the urgency of the upcoming capital maintenance scheduled for December. The President emphasized the need for meticulous preparation to ensure high-quality implementation of the maintenance, which is the first in 15 years despite technical standards recommending it every seven to eight years. Rubén Campos Olmo, the plant’s General Director, outlined two maintenance strategies: one focused on basic equipment repairs and another, more extensive, involving a 180-day shutdown. The project includes chimney repairs, condenser tube replacements, and maintenance of regenerative air heaters. Despite operational challenges exacerbated by the U.S. economic blockade, the plant’s workforce of over 400 remains resilient. Campos Olmo highlighted the difficulties in sourcing parts and equipment due to the blockade, including delayed deliveries and retained shipments. The President praised the workers’ commitment, expressing confidence in their ability to stabilize the SEN. The visit underscored the plant’s critical role in Cuba’s energy sector and the broader challenges facing the nation’s infrastructure.
Recover all possible generation capacity before major repairs to the Guiteras plant
