Cuba’s National Power Grid Restored

Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines announced today that the National Power Grid (SEN) was fully reconnected from east to west at 5:01 a.m. local time.

The Ministry, through its social media profile, specified that the restoration was achieved from the eastern province of Guantanamo to the westernmost part of Pinar del Rio. It also added that the process of incorporating generating units is still underway.

Previously, Félix Estrada, director of the National Load Dispatch Center of the Cuban Electric Union (UNE). He explained that the lack of diesel fuel for distributed generation is complicating the restoration of the SEN.

In that context, he added that going forward, the restoration of power will be carried out gradually as conditions on the SEN allow.

The system is currently operating at low generation capacity. (SEN was closed at 7:00 a.m.) Only 590 MW are currently being supplied nationwide. Two units in Santa Cruz, Unit 3 in Cienfuegos, and Unit 6 in Nuevitas are expected to be brought online within the next few hours. The Moa and Mariel plants are currently offline.

Authorities from the Ministry of Energy and Mines reported yesterday that a malfunction caused the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant. Located in Matanzas province, to go offline, resulting in a partial blackout of the electrical grid.

Following the incident, Helmer García, director of the maintenance unit at the Matanzas plant, stated in a national television address that repairs would begin once the boiler’s natural cooling process was complete. Which takes between 36 and 40 hours after the breakdown. He also explained that related actions were being carried out concurrently.

Likewise, the general manager of the thermoelectric plant, Rubén Campos, explained that the malfunction occurred in the lowest part of the boiler and, according to initial assessments. Also could be related to combustion byproducts that, upon exiting at high temperatures, may have affected a pipe.

He indicated that these byproducts, upon emerging incandescent, can cause damage to system components. Although he clarified that no fires were reported at any time.
Campos emphasized that this type of event can occur in the operation of a thermal unit and reiterated that efforts are underway to restore service as quickly as possible.

Following the breakdown, Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, along with the Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente De La O, visited the National Load Dispatch Center of the National Electric Union (UNE). To clarify the details of the unexpected partial outage of the National Electric System (SEN). As well as the next steps to be taken for its restoration.

With information from Prensa Latina

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