The CNMI Office of Planning and Development headed by director Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong kicked off yesterday a three-day online forum that drew the islands\u2019 leaders to craft a comprehensive development plan for the CNMI.<\/p>\n
The forum, which started yesterday and will run until Friday via online meetings, aims to craft a document called \u201cComprehensive Sustainable Development Plan\u201d that will serve as the CNMI\u2019s blueprint for growth in the next several years.<\/p>\n
Speakers and representatives of different government agencies disclosed plans that are being planned to ultimately benefit and guide the CNMI toward a vision of what it means to have a \u201cbetter community\u201d in the future.<\/p>\n
Representatives of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., who were among the guest speakers during the first day of forum, shared current and future plans about power, water and wastewater in the CNMI.<\/p>\n
Adrian Reyes, CUC\u2019s electrical engineer for its Power Transmission and Distribution Division, said that CUC is committed to providing reliable and environmentally sensitive and effective power, water, wastewater service for the CNMI at the lowest reasonable cost while providing safety to the employees and the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important that I mention this because the projects that follow were created with these principles in mind,\u201d said Reyes. \u201c\u2026The projects have crucial roles to play in CUC\u2019s power development in the CNMI. \u2026This list encompasses CUC\u2019s five-year strategic plan and by the dollar amount associated with the projects, these projects are substantial. \u2026CUC has active power, water and wastewater service projects as well as projects in development.\u201d <\/p>\n
Under his supervision are the power generation and transmission and distribution division. \u201cFor power generation, CUC is currently involved in three major projects. \u2026Two of them involve major repairs to CUC\u2019s largest diesel engines. The power generation facility has been historically managed via a cost-efficient approach, which means major repairs have been the preferred option over engine replacement,\u201d Reyes said. \u201cTwo of major repairs [started] this year and are expected to be completed by the early part of next year . \u2026Both engines provide more than 35% of CUC\u2019s available power for the Saipan power grid. With the expectation that the CNMI\u2019s economy will pick up at the early or mid-part of next year post-pandemic\u2026we will be ready to support the CNMI\u2019s economy moving forward. <\/p>\n
For the Transmission and Distribution Division, active projects were created to automate meter reading, billing control and focus on replacing mechanical meters with smart meters. \u201cWhat this means is [that,] not only can CUC benefit from reading power usage along customers\u2019 accounts but it also also allows customers to get a grip on their power consumption in their own time 24\/7, \u2026monitoring power usage and making appropriate adjustment to fit their financial means,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n
Since the smart meter\u2019s launch, CUC has replaced 2,556 mechanical meters with smart meters, which equates to 20% of total CUC meter inventory. Some 75% of smart meters have been made on residential accounts and the remaining installations have been made on commercial and government accounts, Reyes said.<\/p>\n
Notable power projects in development include a new power plant and substation, new diesel engines, a new power plant on Rota, and a solar farm with battery storage on Saipan. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is no secret that the CUC \u2018s power plant is old and obsolete in the next five to 10 years. We will be working toward building a 60-megawatt power plant. \u2026What that means for the consumer is, with fuel efficient engines, rates can be minimized and mitigated to a more affordable rate,\u201d Reyes said.<\/p>\n
Larry Manacop, the associate engineer for CUC\u2019s Water and Wastewater Divisions, said the availability and sustainability for CUC water management and sanitation are important to improve efficiency, reduce costs and address future needs. \u201cThis goal can be achieved through strong infrastructure planning and effective utility management practices at both water and wastewater systems. \u2026Active water projects include the San Vicente water tank replacement, to be completed by end of September 2020, the Kagman transmission line and booster pump upgrade to be completed in October this year, the Gualo Rai waterline replacement that was completed last month, purchase and installation of water filtration system, the Chinatown waterline replacement\u2026which is 90% complete, and the San Antonio waterline replacement, which is in the 90% phase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor wastewater\u2026we are doing a lot of work at our treatment plants and hopefully we will get these to work on top shape in two years\u2019 time,\u201d he added<\/p>\n
Manacop also mentioned that CUC also received $7.3 million from Federal Emergency Management Agency for water mitigation, \u201c\u2026which includes installation of a generator to provide back up powers to about 91 water wells around the island. \u2026We also requested about $4.4 million\u2026which will be used to procure generators to provide back-up power for 32 wells islandwide. This is great because every time a typhoon comes, water services will be back in service after a few days,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The 2nd day of the CNMI Office of Planning and Development will be held today starting at 9am. For more information, go to their Facebook page: CNMI Office of Planning and Development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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