Efforts for backup power in the works

The administration has reported efforts to fix Power Plant II at Lower Base, following a finding that the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s lack of backup power generation capacity was a major factor in Saipan’s power crisis.

“This lack of backup or ‘reserve’ capacity means that any mechanical problem with any of CUC’s power generation facilities or components will cause capacity to drop below demand and force load shedding. Load shedding in an uncontrolled manner will result in the interruption of power to the CNMI’s public health and safety facilities and endanger the continued operation of water and wastewater facilities,” said Gov. Juan N. Babauta.

Citing the result of an initial assessment made by CUC consultant Ramon S. Guerrero, the governor said the short-term dangers posed by CUC’s lack of back up power generation capacity could be addressed by rehabilitating and repairing Power Plant II.

Located next to Power Plant I at Lower Base, Power Plant II is comprised of six generators, which have a total capacity of 15 megawatts.

As of May 19, when Babauta declared a state of emergency and assumed control of CUC, none of the six generators were fully operational.

Babauta said the generators had now been fully inspected to determine what mechanical and electrical repairs, including external cooling tower and exhaust repairs, were necessary to restore the power plant to its full capacity.

A list of necessary parts was then prepared and checked against existing CUC inventory. “A number of critical and potentially expensive parts have been discovered in CUC’s existing inventory, including unused power generation capacity and parts located at CUC’s Tinian power plant,” according to Babauta.

He added, “The ability to bring back Power Plant II online will not only provide the power generation that is necessary to continue the provision of power in the event of any of the main power generation facilities goes offline, it will allow [CUC’s power generation staff] to take the main power generation facilities offline in a controlled manner so that critically needed and overdue maintenance can be performed.”

In related news, CUC will implement an islandwide power outage from 8am to 4pm today. CUC will be conducting maintenance and servicing on Power Plant I.