UPDATE ON BVIEC GENERATION CONTRACT
In light of continuing blackouts throughout the territory, the public has again been assured that urgent efforts are being taken to improve the generating capacity at the BVI Electricity Corporation. While the situation has improved considerably, compared to the frequent outages during the second half of last year, the territory is still plagued with many unscheduled interruptions.
The BVIEC embarked on Phase 3 of a development programme at the Pockwood Pond power station early last year, which should have been completed by the end of the year, thus bringing some relief. Communications and Works Minister the Honourable J. Alvin Christopher provided an update in a statement provided during the 21st Sitting of the 1st Session of the 14th Legislative Council last Friday. The programme involves the installation of three generators, identified as numbers 5, 6 and 7. Initially, the first two were to be commissioned by mid October and December 28th respectively. “Unfortunately, this phase of the development programme is still in progress due to major problems incurred by Rolls Royce, the contractor,” Minister Christopher reported. He cited the main problems associated with the delay as the procurement and the installation of the GRP pipe work, which are required for the seawater cooling system for the generators.
A project meeting was conducted February 14th with representatives
of Rolls Royce and the BVIEC at which the contractor submitted
a revised programme for the commissioning of units number five
and six. It is now anticipated that the startup time for the
no. 5 unit will be April 13th, with an early finish by April
19th and generator no. 6 would be April 21st start up and early
finish by April 27th, 2001.
The installation and commissioning of generator no. 7, a variation
to the original contract, is to be completed around the end of
May. “All efforts are being made to encourage Rolls Royce
to complete the project as swiftly as possible. Under the contract,
the Corporation is entitled to claim for liquidation damage on
account of the contractor delays and the BVI Electricity Corporation
has already notified Rolls Royce of its intention to exercise
such an option.”
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