PHILIPSBURG--Malfunctions, short circuits and unforeseen circumstances can always occur with any type of new machinery, GEBE management says. Senior members briefed the media yesterday on several issues that have affected the community as well as the company recently.
GEBE's Chief of Operations Kenrick Chittick provided a technical explanation of the problems the new 11.3-megawatt (MW) generators have been encountering, resulting in a spate of power outages in the last two weeks.
As the generators and engines go through a "teething process," he says, some electrical problems are surfacing causing short circuits and tripping one of the new engines. Once identified, Chittick said, technicians move swiftly to fix the problems. He said the generators were running 100 per cent mechanically.
Chittick also mentioned some challenges with older equipment, despite up-to-date maintenance as outlined by the manufacturer. To alleviate these problems, a major overhaul is currently being carried out on generator 17. That will be followed by overhauls on generators 16, 12 and 15. The entire process should last about three weeks and should not affect electricity supply.
The official inauguration of the new generators will be March 12. Chittick also clarified that, contrary to popular belief, St. Maarten has sufficient capacity with the two new generators, even at peak hours.
"We definitely have enough capacity. If you've also noticed lately, the duration of outages has been reduced from hours to minutes. Electrical wires you can troubleshoot and repair a part, but down the line it can be the same tripping, but at another location in the wires. Most of the time it's not the same sensor failing or the same cable, it's several different issues," he said.
Chittick also explained that the new generators had been tested thoroughly for performance before being placed in full production here. "I personally witnessed the testing in March 2009 in Italy when I went to the factory," he said.
Chittick could not say when the testing phase of the generators would be over, but did not expect the challenges that come with new machinery and new installations to continue much longer. He also said GEBE had the know-how and capability onsite to manage the facility and new generators, and did not need technicians from Wärtsilä, the manufacturer of the new generators, to be onsite.
Another new generator is scheduled to arrive some time in 2011. A space has already been reserved in the new power plant, but the exact wattage of this new engine has yet to be decided, pending research. Chittick said wattage should be around the same as the two new 11.3MW generators.
