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Way cleared for Aggreko contract
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Posted on Jul 31 2008
The Senate and the House of Representatives held back-to-back sessions yesterday to remove what may be the last remaining legal obstacle to the temporary power deal inked by the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. with the U.K.-based Aggreko International.
The Senate voted unanimously to pass a bill exempting emergency power contracts from review by the Public Utilities Commission. The bill was immediately sent to the House of Representatives, which voted 9-6 to approve it.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is expected to sign the bill into law today.
Press secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr. hailed the quick passage of the bill as show of “bipartisan cooperation between the administration and the Legislature to address CUC’s very critical problems.”
“We desperately need back-up power, and Aggreko is the quickest solution we have right now,” he added.
CUC has hired the U.K.-based Aggreko International to provide up to 15 MW of temporary power to Saipan. The island is currently suffering constant blackouts due to the poor condition of its power plant. Under the $6-million contract, CUC must make an initial payment of $1.5 million before Aggreko ships the rental generators. Law has now been passed to provide for the required down payment.
Senators Maria Frica T. Pangelinan and Paul A. Manglona sponsored the bill. Senators Jude Hofschneider and Paterno Hocog were absent.
In the House, the members who opposed the bill are Reps. Joseph James Camacho, Heinz Hofschneider, Tina Sablan, Edward Salas, Ralph Anthony Torres, and Stanley Torres. Reps. David Apatang, Francisco Dela Cruz, Raymond Palacios, and Ray Yumul were absent.
