BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, NOVEMBER 11TH 2010 (CUOPM) – The two new Holeby electricity generators are now on line.
This has been confirmed by Superintendent of the Needsmust Power Station, Mr. Kevin Bennett, who disclosed that the two sets are now supplying 8 megawatts to the national grid.
He told the Communications Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister (CUOPM) also that with the two new generators on line, the plant has 30.2 megawatts available.
As a result of the US$22 million investment in generators which would lead to greater reliability and efficiency in the supply of electricity to consumers on St. Kitts, some 3.5 megawatts have been discontinued from the Aggreko rental plant next to the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.
Mr. Bennett said Aggreko which was supplying 7.5 megawatts is now supplying only 4 megawatts.
He further disclosed that the current available capacity is 30.2 megawatts excluding a 6.1 megawatts generator which is now under maintenance.
Minister of Public Works and Utilities, Dr. the Hon. Earl Asim Martin following a recent tour of the new power plant, to look at the installation of two of the four MAN generating sets, said the other two sets should be online by February 2011.
“That will definitely improve our capacity, provide a more reliable supply of electricity to our consumers and we expect this will lead to an overall improvement in the quality of life of the citizens and residents and also reduce the stress of our electricity workers who have been coping with varying problems over the past years,” said Minister Martin.
He said the over US$22 million investment in what is basically a new power plant is tremendous and would result in increased operational costs.
“We have spent millions of dollars in capital investment, which now has to be maintained with the hiring of additional staff,” said Minister Martin.
He said there will be strict adherence to the maintenance scheduled as stipulated by the manufacturers.
Managing Director for Carib Energy, Terry Burns said installation of the two engines that arrived in August has been completed.
“With the civil works completed ahead of their arrival, we have mounted the engines, completed the construction of the enclosures as well as install all the pipe work and electrical fittings,” said Mr. Burns.
With the commissioning engineers from the MAN factory on site as well as from the control system, preparation has begun to start the final commissioning and handover process.
“The first two engines will start to be operated in 48 hours and during next week, once everything goes according to plan and there are no glitches or problems, then these two Holeby electricity sets will be put into service by the end of the month,” said Mr. Burns.
He said the other two engines that arrived this month will go through the same process and are expected to be in service by the end of February next year.
