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19.6 MW for entire Saipan
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Posted on Aug 27 2008
The Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s power plants were producing less than 20 megawatts of power yesterday for the island, with only one engine operational at Power Plant 1.
The island was experiencing extensive load shedding because of the lack of power.
At Power Plant 1, only engine 3, producing 5 megawatts, was operational yesterday evening. The nine operational engines at Power Plant 4 were producing 14.6 megawatts. Combined, these add up to just 19.6 MW for the entire island of Saipan.
At Power Plant 1, engine 2 went down Sunday because repairs were needed for the crankpin bearings, said Gary Camacho, acting Power Division manager.
Engine 6 was experiencing mechanical and electrical problems, as well.
Camacho said engine 6, which will provide 6 MWs of power, should be up and running this morning. Engine 2 should be repaired by the end of next week and will provide 5 megawatts.
Engine 8, which is currently down, should be operational late today, Camacho said.
Although CUC executive director Antonio Muña said Monday that engine 8 would be down indefinitely until repair parts were purchased, Camacho said his crew told him it would be fixed soon.
“I asked, ‘Are we certain?’” he said yesterday evening. “They made it perfectly clear that [engine 8] would be up and running [today], the following day at the latest.”
With engine 3 the only operational engine at Power Plant 1 and nine of the 10 engines at Power Plant 4 working, the island was receiving at most 19.6 MW. Camacho said the island was receiving 18 to 20 megawatts on average yesterday.
In order to follow the two-hour load shedding schedule, at least three engines producing about 40 megawatts should be operational, Camacho said. When it gets down to one, extensive load shedding takes place.
The crewmembers must be commended for their hard work in trying to fix and repair the engines as soon as problems arise, Camacho said.
CUC is hoping for relief by mid-September when the Aggreko generators are expected to be operational. On Monday, Muna said the engines, which will provide an additional 15 megawatts of power, should be up and running by Sept. 16 or 17.
