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Kumoi doubts CUC’s repair projection
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Posted on Aug 11 2005
Unless the contractor works 24 hours daily at Power Plant 1, it is highly difficult to complete the repair of the three broken engines at the plant by early September, according to former senator Ramon “Kumoi” S. Guerrero.
Guerrero, a former consultant of Commonwealth Utilities Corp., said the installation of anchor bolts at engine 8 alone requires a special machine.
“I doubt it very much that they can do it unless MAN B&W works there 24 hours a day. They also need to bring in their machines for the repalcement of the bolts,” said Guerrero.
Further, he said that engine 8 lacks a turbo charger because “we used it and installed it on engine 7.”
When reached, Ivo Post, project manager of MAN B&W Diesel Singapore, who is currently on island, expressed confidence that engine 8 would be up on Sept. 7.
“Everybody is entitled to his own opinion. Yes, there is a probability that some parts might not arrive on time but for engine 8, I have a contract form… I’m most confident that we can complete our work on engine 8 on time,” said Post in an interview.
He said his team needs to install 16 anchor bolts and re-align the engine including chockfast.
Earlier, Post said that engine 3 is estimated to be up by Aug. 25 and engine 4, by Sept. 17. These three units including engine 8, are currently down, resulting in the eight-engine Power Plant 1 producing only 43 megawatts of power. By design, the power plant can generate up to 80 megawatts. Saipan consumes some 60 megawatts daily.
Guerrero also questioned CUC’s projection that the repair of the power plant would need some $7 million.
Guerrero said that his estimate, prior to the breakdown of engines 3 and 4, reached only $3.5 million. “I don’t know who gave her that figure. She doubled my estimate,” he said, referring to CUC executive director Lorraine A. Babauta, who earlier said that Power Plant 1 repair requires $7 million.
She said the installation of engine 8 anchor bolts alone requires $400,000. She said other expenses include $1 million for the cooling system, $800,000 for roof repair, and purchases of various spare parts.
She said that the CUC would rely on the Governor’s Office and the Legislature to look for the sum of $7 million.
