The Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant, Cuba's largest electricity generation facility, reconnected to the National Electric System at 4:36 a.m. on Wednesday, as confirmed by the Electric Union on its Facebook page.
This development offers little optimism: the prior reconnection, which occurred Monday at 10:06 p.m., lasted a mere 24 hours before the plant went offline again at 10:11 p.m. on Tuesday, due to "causes yet to be identified," according to the Electric Union.
During that brief period, the plant's general manager, Román A. Pérez Castañeda, reported that the plant was generating about 150 MW, significantly below its nominal capacity of 316 MW.
In October alone, Guiteras experienced breakdowns on the 4th, 9th, and 14th. The most recent failure impacted the boiler's economizer, causing further damage to the low-temperature reheater. Between the 15th and 17th, technicians replaced 11 tube segments and conducted hydraulic and pneumatic tests before attempting Monday's reconnection.
So far in 2026, the plant has had at least 17 unscheduled outages, including an incident in July where it remained connected for just 26 minutes.
Inaugurated in 1988, this facility has been in operation for over 38 years without undergoing major maintenance since 2010. An extensive repair would require replacing more than 500 tubes, performing 1,000 to 1,200 welds, and a planned shutdown of at least 180 days.
Public skepticism regarding each new reconnection is palpable. Comments on the Electric Union's post reflect the frustration: "One sneeze and zassss," one user wrote.
Another was more blunt: "Guiteras is the living image of the system. Completely failed." A third, with apparent technical knowledge, warned: "It's better to fix everything properly and ensure a lasting startup than to keep patching things up."
The energy backdrop is one of structural collapse. On Tuesday, the Cuban electrical system had just 920 MW available against a demand of 2,820 MW, with a forecasted deficit of 1,850 MW. Towns in Matanzas, such as Manuelito, Bolondrón, and Unión de Reyes, endured over 70 hours without power recently, while some circuits in Pinar del Río accumulated more than 90 hours in darkness.
The electrical crisis also affects the water supply: the regime admitted that 2.5 million Cubans—32% of those receiving water through networks—have experienced service interruptions, with 88% of the incidents attributed to electrical issues. This desperation has led to spontaneous protests in Artemisa, Granma, and Cienfuegos.
On October 17, while Guiteras was out of service, the Electric Union described it as "Cuba's largest and most efficient single unit block," a statement that sparked a wave of ridicule on social media. One user's response captured the public sentiment: "Pending causes hahaha, this sounds like a novel title. Too bad what the people are experiencing is more like a horror series."
Understanding the Challenges of Cuba's Energy System
Why did the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Plant go offline again?
The plant went offline due to "causes yet to be identified," according to the Electric Union.
What repairs does the Guiteras plant need?
An extensive repair would involve replacing more than 500 tubes, executing between 1,000 and 1,200 welds, and a planned shutdown of at least 180 days.
How does the electrical crisis affect water supply in Cuba?
The electrical crisis has disrupted water supply for 2.5 million Cubans, with 88% of the incidents linked to electrical issues.