‘Rota power supply now stable’

The electric power supply on Rota is now stable, with the island now enjoying enough reserve power capacity, according to Commonwealth Utilities Corp. Rota resident director David Atalig.

In his report to the CUC board during Monday’s meeting, he said that their total electric power generation capacity is now at 5.6 megawatts.

The peak load is only between 1.5 and 1.7 megawatts, he added.

Atalig said Mitsui No. 1 power generator is currently supplying power to the island at 2.0- megawatts.

The Caterpillar power engine and the new Cummins Genset No. 4 generator have been installed and are on standby. Each generator can produce a capacity of 1.8 megawatts.

Rota’s power generation capability was compromised several months back when two of its main power generating units experienced problem. That prompted the CUC board to declare an emergency situation on the island last January and call for the creation of a reserve power capacity. A generator set was later procured and installed.

Atalig said they are thankful that, with the CUC management’s swift decision, a technical team from CUC Saipan was dispatched to Rota to rehabilitate one of the generator units. At the same time, the CUC board decided to procure a power engine to replace one generator. That led to the purchase of a Caterpillar engine with a capacity to produce 1.8 megawatts of power.

Together with a new Cummins Genset Number 4 that had been previously purchased, Atalig said that CUC Rota now has a lot of reserve power.

“We have brought back stability to generate power,” said Atalig, who expressed gus appreciation to the CUC board, executive director Gary P. Camacho, and CUC’s technical team.

Atalig said CUC’s technical team “did a fantastic job.”

With respect to the water generation situation on Rota, Atalig said their main water cave continues to produce 460 gallons per minute, which is enough to serve the entire island.

He said their Sinapalo water reservoir, which is their backup when something is wrong with the main water supplier, is at full level.

Atalig said one water well is also on standby, producing 140 gallons per minute.

“As you can see, there is no problem with the water situation on Rota. We have [an] abundance of water,” he said.