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DUE TO THE RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH
‘Saipan power demand up 40 percent since 2016’
Saipan’s rapid economic growth has fueled a 40-percent increase in its power demand since 2016, according to Commonwealth Utilities Corp. executive director Gary P. Camacho.
In contrast, the average power utility growth in the U.S. mainland is only 1 percent.
“So it’s extremely challenging,” said Camacho.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Camacho said that CUC needs to replace its Number 8 power engine at Power Plant 1 in Lower Base.
He said that engine has been down for many years. It used to produce 11 megawatts.
“Although we have the engine, it’s not producing because of mechanical issues,” he said.
Camacho earlier reported that their three power plants on Saipan produce a total capacity of 52.1 megawatts.
Camacho said CUC has funding to buy a new engine to replace Engine No. 8, but the project has been going through the procurement process to identify the right one for installation. He said the CNMI central government provided funding to buy a replacement engine, largely due to efforts of the previous CUC board.
“It’s now being processed to replace the engine and that would be an additional 10 to 11 megawatt to the system,” he said.
At a status conference about CUC projects last February before U.S. District Court for the NMI designated Judge David O. Carter, Camacho disclosed that the Imperial Pacific casino is currently partially online with CUC’s power.
“I think at 1.4 or 2 megawatts, but that’s anticipated to be 20 megawatts at some point,” he said.
Camacho noted that approximately six other resorts have been permitted to build their own power plants and that some of those are actually under construction.
He said one of the resorts is a 7-megawatt establishment in Tanapag, and just north of that in San Roque is another is 4- megawatt resort.
“So between the two [resort projects], it’s 11 megawatts,” Camacho said.
