No Further Load Shedding - Hon. Christopher Says

Residents of Tortola would be pleased to know, that according to Minister of Communications and Works the Honourable Alvin Christopher, there will be no further load shedding of electricity throughout the island. He made the announcement during the 9th Sitting of the 1st Session of the 14th Legislative Council, held at Council Chambers in Road Town on Friday March 31st, 2000. Homes and businesses have been plagued in recent weeks by a series of blackouts, due to equipment problems at the BVI Electricity Corporation.

In response to a question posed by his Shadow Minister Hon. Lloyd Black, Member for the 8th District, Mr. Christopher explained that the transformer for the No.1 generator set at Pockwood Pond was damaged in December 1999. He did not know the cause of the damage. "The coil core of the transformer was damaged and needs to be replaced," he reported. He said a new core is being manufactured in England and should be completed by April 7th. The Communications and Works Minister said following the loss of the No.1 generator, the No.4 set developed a problem with the turbo charge, which was repaired about two weeks. However, further problems developed with the No. 3 generator, which lost a bearing about ten days. That part had to be flown in from Holland.

"And Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to report that that part was installed yesterday (March 30). Currently, three of the four generators at Pockwood Pond are now back on line, as of yesterday and no further load shedding is necessary," he reported. With the reinstatement of the No.1 generator, which will take place during the week beginning April 9th, the Pockwood Pond Power Station is expected to be restored to its full output strength. According to the Minister, the BVI Electricity Corporation usually follows a feeder rotation schedule when forced to go into load shedding. This involves taking feeders off at periodic times until the problem is corrected. He said the public was made aware of the load-shedding schedule via the local media. At least one area that was not affected was the "financial district", as the feeder that serves that area is excluded from any load shedding activity. Minister Christopher said work is in progress on the construction of the civil works portion of Phase II of the new Pockwood Power Plant. The foundation for the additional building has been laid out and the form and steel works are at an advanced stage.

He said a major pouring of concrete took place on Monday March 27th and involved the area which will house the electrical annex; another took place Friday March 31st involving the area to house the mechanical annex; the structural steel for the erection of the building is scheduled to arrive in the territory on Sunday April 12 and work on the erection of the building should commence that same week. Both engines are expected to be completed, with the alternators, transformers and all, scheduled to be shipped from England by May 15th and arrive in the territory by June 16th, 2000.