Government has announced plans to purchase two 2.5 mega-watt generators or a total capacity improvement of 5 megawatts as part of their plans to upgrade the electricity service in St. Kitts.
About one month ago, a new 4 mega watt electricity generator was commissioned at the Needsmust Power Station to ‘ensure a reliable and efficient power supply for the future’.
It was also announced that further upgrades would be carried out including an upgrade to the electrical relays and breakers, and the conversion from the use of light fuel to heavier, cheaper fuels.
The island has been plagued with abrupt power outages for some time, some lasting minutes while others lasted hours. Consumers have claimed that the outages have reeked havoc on their electrical appliances as well as disrupted their businesses.
The Hon Minister of Public Utilities, Dr Earl Asim Martin explained that the obsolete relays and breakers have been responsible for the unplanned outages in electricity supply, but that the replacement of the equipment will eliminate these problems.
The upgrades were formally approved by Cabinet two weeks ago and are said to be ‘consistent with government’s policy to continue to modernize the electricity services in the Federation in response to and in preparation for continuing robust economic development of the country’.
“The rapid economic development which has taken place over the last 10 years has drastically increased the demand for electricity,” said Minister Nigel Carty.
Last August, a new 4-megawatt Man Holeby generator, costing US$7.9 million was commissioned. With the added four megawatts, the installed capacity at the Needsmust Power Plant has increased from 33.5 megawatts to 37.5 megawatts.
The approved activities are expected to be all completed by mid-2008 the minister said.
