Felton thermoelectric plant will be disconnected for 13 days

The energy crisis does not give truce on the Island, and the departure of the ‘Lidio Ramón Pérez’ Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE), in Felton, Holguín, has worsened the situation even more.

Unit 1 of the CTE will be disconnected for 13 days due to supposed scheduled maintenance, so the following two weeks will experience disruptions to the Island’s electrical service, at least more than usual.

This unit generally contributes 275 MW, and remained working for a record period of 213 days, something that is extremely unusual among the thermoelectric plants on the Island, such as the ‘Antonio Guiteras’, in Matanzas, which sees unexpected outputs every one or two months.

Through an official statement, the Cuban Electrical Union (UNE) reported that maintenance work must be carried out now, in preparation for the end of the year celebrations and with the aim of avoiding a major breakage that could take out the CTE system for much longer.

These maintenance tasks, while necessary, add to the complex panorama that the Island is experiencing, since several units of other CTE are out of service due to breakdowns or maintenance, which accumulates the deficit in production.

The CTE was inaugurated in 2001, and is considered one of the most efficient on the Island. It has two high-power units, but one of them was irreparably damaged after a fire that occurred while it was being remodeled almost a year ago, due to so only unit 1 remains active.

The UNE points out that the National Electro-energy System (SEN) has an availability of 2,380 MW for this Tuesday the 21st, while the demand will be 1,900 MW, which will allow the system to operate without effects, however, this could change if maximum demand increases.

Likewise, the situation could take a turn if any of the remaining thermoelectric plants suffer another breakdown.

For today, peak hour demand is estimated at around 2,800 MW, while availability will be 2,590 MW, leaving a deficit of 210 MW during this period, which could result in blackouts.

To prevent this, the use of 115 MW of distributed generation in engines under maintenance and the activation of 6 engines in the Melones Mobile Generation was authorized, which would add an additional 95 MW.