For the months of July and August, thermal generation should contribute an average of 1,200 megawatts (MW) to the National Electrical System (SEN), Julio González Céspedes, director of Maintenance of the Electrical Union, told Granma.
This figure exceeds that reached in 2023 by 100 MW, and that established in 2022 by 200 MW, although very far from the installed power of 1,993 MW, he specified.
González Céspedes explained that, starting this Thursday and for ten days, machine three of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes thermoelectric plant (CTE), in Cienfuegos, will receive light maintenance, to return with 145 MW.
In turn, unit four of this thermoelectric plant, suffering from damage to the regenerative air heaters (CAR) and the boiler economizers, will undergo extended partial maintenance after the summer, generally lasting more than 130 days. for the replacement of parts, manufactured at the Power Plant Maintenance Company (EMCE).
He pointed out that, recently, block one of the Lidio Ramón Pérez CTE, in Felton, in Mayarí, received light maintenance for 25 days, with actions such as washing the boiler, changing pipes in a critical sector, and replacing of damaged baskets in the CARs, and returned with a contribution of 230 MW. In the summer a fluctuation between 215 and 225 MW is planned.
Likewise, unit six of the CTE Máximo Gómez, in Mariel, was the subject of a light intervention, in addition to those carried out in units five and eight, of a partial nature, González Céspedes specified.
In total, the CTE located in the Artemiseño municipality must contribute 220 MW daily in the coming two months, he said.
The manager added that block two of the Ernesto Guevara CTE, in Santa Cruz, with wear and tear due to three unfulfilled capital maintenance cycles, will receive a light cycle when unit one synchronizes, at the beginning of July, with 90 MW, after 77 days of planned shutdown.
He added that, before July, the CTE Antonio Guiteras, from Matanzas, is scheduled to leave for four dates, to wash the CAR baskets, often dirty due to the type of fuel used – Cuban crude oil with high content of sulfur-.
La Guiteras has accumulated 13 years without capital maintenance, and its average power in the summer will fluctuate between 250 and 260 MW, he explained.
On the other hand, unit five of the CTE 10 de Octubre, in Nuevitas, is currently undergoing light maintenance for ten days, and together with number six, they will be able to provide 200 MW during the summer stage, González Céspedes pointed out.
He also reported that the CTE Antonio Maceo (Renté), of Santiago de Cuba, must arrive with an average of 180 MW for the hottest stage of the year – one hundred less compared to its ideal power –, despite the light maintenance actions carried out in units three and six, during this month.
The Director of Maintenance of the une praised the efforts to obtain the financing required for capital maintenance in the units that have not received it for the longest time, as is the case of the CTE Antonio Guiteras and unit two of Santa Cruz, although the effects of the US Government blockade sanctions. uuu and its extraterritorial character make negotiations difficult.
