Guiteras Power Plant Fails Again: Energy Deficit Approaches 2,000 MW

Monday night, February 10th, brought grim news for Cubans: the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the country’s most powerful single generating unit, went offline again due to a crack in the boiler structure.

Only Five Days in Operation

The Guiteras plant, located in Matanzas province, had returned to service just five days earlier following its previous breakdown. This new failure represents a devastating blow to an electrical system already crippled by Cuba’s ongoing fuel crisis.

With this 317 MW unit offline, Cuba’s Electric Union projected that the energy deficit would approach 2,000 megawatts Monday night, triggering massive blackouts across virtually every province.

A Plant with a Troubled History

The Antonio Guiteras plant, built in the 1980s with Soviet technology, has been a constant source of problems in recent years. Its frequent failures stem from:

• Age of the infrastructure (over 40 years old)
• Lack of preventive maintenance due to resource shortages
• Scarcity of spare parts because of the embargo and economic crisis
• Operational overload amid growing demand

Impact on Daily Life

For millions of Cubans, the news means more hours without electricity in homes, hospitals, schools, and workplaces. Blackouts, ironically called “alumbrones” (big lights) by locals, have become the norm:

• Refrigerators not working, leading to food spoilage
• Medical equipment dependent on emergency generators
• Public transportation paralyzed by fuel shortages
• Economic activity reduced to a minimum

The Crisis Context

This breakdown occurs amid the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in decades. U.S. sanctions have effectively cut off oil supplies from Venezuela and Mexico, forcing the government to implement emergency measures including:

• University and school closures
• Four-day work weeks
• Suspension of non-urgent surgeries
• Fuel rationing for transportation

Authorities have not announced when the Guiteras might be repaired or how they will compensate for its absence from the grid. Meanwhile, Cubans continue adapting to a reality where electricity has become a scarce commodity.

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Source: OnCubaNews