Investments strengthen electric system in a Cuban western province

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 2 (ACN) Investments in transmission and distribution substations are advancing in the western province of Artemisa, with the goal of increasing installed capacity, balancing the load, and improving the quality of electrical service, reported Edelfin Falcon Guerra, technical director of the territorial Electric Company.

The director told the newspaper El Artemiseño that the territory has seven transmission substations and 84 subtransmission substations, several of which are experiencing power shortages, such as those in Zayas, in Mariel; Ariguanabo, in Cayo la Rosa, Bauta; and San Cristobal.

He explained that in Zayas, the replacement of a 25-megawatt (MW) transformer damaged by a fire in 2024 is underway. This will allow for the recovery of 50 MW of power and alleviate the load on other nearby facilities in the Mariel Special Development Zone.

Ariguanabo will incorporate a second 25 MW transformer, along with control and protection equipment, to reduce load transfers to substations such as Rincon, Santa Fe, and San Agustin, which cannot tolerate overloads during peak demand.

The Mariel Construction Company is responsible for the civil works in Zayas, while Eciart is carrying out the investment in Ariguanabo, both involving millions of dollars in specialized equipment.

At the distribution level, more than 20 of the 84 substations are overloaded; work is currently underway on four: Circunvalacion, in San Antonio de los Baños; Vereda; Güira de Melena; and a new one in the provincial capital. State and non-state workers are participating in the construction, such as the MSME brigade that is rebuilding the perimeter wall of the Zayas substation and preparing the foundation for the T2 transformer.

These actions are part of the National Electric System's recovery program, which includes the rehabilitation of thermoelectric plants, the incorporation of 92 photovoltaic solar parks, and contingency measures, with the goal of ensuring demand coverage and strengthening the service's resilience.