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Posted: Thursday 29 July, 2010 at 7:58 PM

Four-week load shedding a possibility starting next Wednesday,

New power plant at Needsmust to house the four new generators under construction.
CUOPM

    Two of four new generators to be commissioned by end of October
     
    BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JULY 29TH 2010 (CUOPM Press Release) – Engineers at the Needsmust Power Station are to carry out an inspection this weekend on the G4 generating set.

     

    Acting General Manager of the St. Kitts Electricity Department, Mr. Bertil Browne told the Communication Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) that the inspection is to determine whether the overhaul is necessary at this time and if so scheduled load shedding will have to take place.

     

    “We will be looking at the valves on the generator set to determine their condition. If  the inspection indicates that the overhaul is necessary, it is likely that we will begin maintenance immediately and this programme is expected to last approximately four weeks,” said Browne, pointing out that a general overhaul is overdue.

     

    He said with the G4 generating set under maintenance, a scheduled load shedding programme will be introduced from Wednesday of next week as over the weekend and the two holidays (August Monday and August Tuesday) capacity required will be lower.

     

    The shortage of capacity experienced resulted from the loss of the largest engine that was damaged by fire in 2008.  This engine had a capacity of 7.6MW and its loss has caused the system to become unstable.

     

    Additionally, the two Caterpillars purchased between 1989 and 1995 had to be removed from service due to their long history of failures and problems, poor fuel efficiency and extreme unreliability.

     

    Firstly the Ministry has continued to rent generating sets from Aggreko which produce 7.5MW.  These will be returned as soon as practicable.

     

    Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mr. Oaklyn Pets said the Ministry has sought to purchase four (4) additional 4.0MW Holeby gensets from MAN Diesel at a cost in excess of US$30 million.  Two of the 4.0MW Holebys are expected to arrive at the site east of the Power Station by mid-August  2010 and commissioned by the end of  October 2010.

     

    Civil works are currently ongoing east of the Power Station to accommodate the four gensets all of which will be in place and fully commissioned by end of February 2011.

     

    It is expected that following the commissioning in October, the Ministry will be in a position to greatly reduce the contractual period with Aggreko which will end shortly thereafter.

     

    Between 2007 and 2011 the Ministry would have procured a total of seven (7) 4.0MW Holeby engines costing approximately US$58 million.

     

    There are now two generating stations, one is partially automated and the other manual.  The old station contains three generators with an average age of thirty four (34) years which will soon have to be replaced also. 

     

    The newer station will house the four new Holebys.

     

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