Cuba tests new Turkish floating plant to face electricity deficit

Cuba tests a new floating power plant -of Turkish origin- which, after being synchronized with the national energy system, is expected to provide 110 megawatts (MW) to alleviate the deficit that for months has caused daily blackouts on the island.

This is the seventh installation of its type contracted by Cuba to the company Karandeniz Holding. With this incorporation, together they will add a power of 400 MW, according to what state media reported on Tuesday.

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After its arrival at the port of Havana on November 15, the floating plant is carrying out the testing and commissioning phase of its six motors, of which there are three that have already delivered loads to the Cuban electrical system, the official website reported. Cubadebate.

The MV Karadeniz Powership Irem Sultan houses the floating plant, a Liberian-flagged powership.

The first of these systems have been operating in Cuba since 2019 as a result of an agreement with the Turkish Karadeniz Holding.

The Cuban authorities have indicated that the services of these plants are intended to increase the generation capacity to cover the demand for electricity, which has been limited for several months.

Blackouts – due to breakages and failures in the outdated thermoelectric plants, lack of fuel and scheduled maintenance – have been common for several months on the island.

The shutdown in the last few hours of the Antonio Guiteras Thermoelectric Power Plant (CTE) in the province of Matanzas -the main one in the west of the island- after remaining under maintenance for almost two weeks has once again strained the energy system.

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Seven of the eight terrestrial power plants that operate on the island are over 40 years old, when technically it is estimated that the average age of these infrastructures is 30.

The Cuban government announced in September that it intends to reduce blackouts before the end of this year with repairs and new investments.

The blackouts were one of the main reasons behind the anti-government protests on July 11 last year, the largest in decades, as well as those registered after Hurricane Ian, when much of the island was left without power for a week.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.