Minister of Works and Utilities, responsible for the Bahamas Electricity Corporation, Bradley B. Roberts, said on Tuesday that BEC’s board and management are moving swiftly to address the long-standing and vexing problem of power outages.
Minister Roberts, after completing a tour of the Clifton Pier and Baillou Hill Road power plants on Tuesday, said that based on recommendations from the board of BEC, the Cabinet in November approved the acquisition of an additional gas turbine for BEC at its Baillou Hills plant, identical to the unit that was commissioned late last year by Prime Minister Perry Christie.
This GT-4R 24-megawatt generator commissioned on October 30, 2002, which was provided by the Japanese Sumitomo Corporation and its sub-contractor, Hitachi, was said to have enhanced the generating capacity of the Baillou Hill Road power plant.
Minister Roberts said that with the addition of a No. 12 Slow Speed Diesel generator at its Clifton Pier Plant, slated for April 29, it is hoped that BEC will be able to provide uninterrupted power supplies, “barring any unforeseen circumstances, to the Bahamian public and residents of New Providence and Paradise Island.”
“Coupled with the installation of the new gas turbine at Baillou Hills and efforts that are ongoing, with respect to carrying out maintenance of existing plants, should place us in reasonable stead for summer of 2003,” he said.
Despite various public complaints about constant power outages, Mr Roberts said, BEC’s record this past Christmas season, has been extremely good, and there has only been one or two areas where individuals have contacted him and complained that their power went off, as someone may have “overindulged and ran into a lamp pole or transformer.”
“By and large, BEC provided Bahamians and residents alike, with the necessary power to have a very beautiful Christmas and BEC hopes to maintain the same level of service from here on, barring any unforeseen circumstances,” he said.
In addition to the installation of new plants, Minister Roberts said that BEC has also taken the position of carrying out an effective and timely maintenance programme, to ensure that equipment will be able to perform at an acceptable level.
Meanwhile, General Manager of BEC, Mr. Bradley S. Roberts, said that based on his relationship with the board of directors at BEC and its management team, he is very confident that BEC will have the capacity of some 267 megawatts, once an additional gas turbine is implemented at the Baillou Hills power plant. This he said, will be “more than enough” power to supply New Providence, once this and other new plants at Clifton Pier take effect.
“The maximum usage of electricity on the island of New Providence is about 200 megawatts and it gives us additional room to move up during the summer to provide proper maintenance,” he said. “We at BEC are going to adopt a business strategy to provide proactive maintenance around these particular issues and to ensure the public that we are going to have better communication with them in determining what concerns they may have from time to time with BEC.”
The maximum demand next summer (June/July) is expected to be approximately 203 megawatts, while the demand last summer was 203, he said.
Mr. Roberts noted also that BEC’s management team is prepared to work diligently to cause “less stress” to many people this summer, and “we will do our best to cause this to happen,” he promised.
Meanwhile, Chairman of BEC, Mr. Alfred Jarrett, said that BEC takes its commitment to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity to the Bahamian public very seriously. He noted that the initiatives that are now in progress to add additional plants at Baillou Hills and Clifton Pier would put BEC in a better position to provide uninterrupted service throughout the course of the year.
“We have the commitment of our entire staff, to ensure that we keep ahead of the demand for electricity, not only here in New Providence, but throughout the Family Islands,” he said.
By Tamara McKenzie, The Nassau Guardian
