Cuba’s Sancti Spiritus, Energy-Independent

For many experts the future economic development in Sancti Spiritus province is “decided” in an open space of just over 26 000 square meters of land, located in a former sugar cane plantation in the sugar mill Melanio Hernandez, next toTuinucu village.

Valued at more than 20 million pesos, the 220 ​​kV electrical substation executed in Tuinucu (5km away from Sancti Spiritus), constitutes a strategic operation for the Cuban central province, as it will improve the maneuverability of the system and ensure voltage values ​​within the parameters established in what is considered, at present times, the weakest node in the island’s central region.

For many experts the future economic development in Sancti Spiritus province is “decided” in an open space of just over 26 000 square meters of land, located in a former sugar cane plantation in the sugar mill Melanio Hernandez, next toTuinucu village.

Since April 2011 a 220 kV substation is under construction, and by mid-2013 it is expected to provide electrical power to the Cuban central province of Sancti Spiritus, lacking of this service, along with eastern Las Tunas and Guantanamo.

The idea of ​​benefiting the territory has been postponed for more than two decades: in the early 90’s a Soviet project foiled after the fall of the socialist camp; then followed the lack of credits for the acquisition of equipment and finally, in 2003, the priority was given to other social and economic fronts in the nation.

Of Chinese equipment, and considered the most modern and unique of its kind in Cuba, the substation standing in Tuinucu is valued at 20.4 million pesos and experts say is a front factor for the energetic stability in the region.

Designed by INEL (Engineering and Energetic Enterprise Project) of the Cuban Ministry of Basic Industry (MINBAS, for its Spanich accronym) the substation will be sufficient to supply all the municipalities in the province with the exception of Trinidad, which will be fed by the south through Cienfuegos.