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‘Light at the end of the tunnel’- Leroy A. E. Abraham

- as BVIEC offloads the 3 new Wartsila generators for the Phase V Power Development Project
One of the three Wartsila generators being offloaded at Port Purcell dock this morning, August 19, 2016. Photo: VINO
Front row, third from left: Minister for Communiciations and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), General Manager of BVIEC Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham and Deputy General Manager Mr Henry O. Creque, were present at the Port Purcell dock this morning, August 19, 2016 to witness the offloading of the three new generators for the BVIEC's Phase V Project. Photo: VINO
Front row, third from left: Minister for Communiciations and Works Hon Mark H. Vanterpool (R4), General Manager of BVIEC Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham and Deputy General Manager Mr Henry O. Creque, were present at the Port Purcell dock this morning, August 19, 2016 to witness the offloading of the three new generators for the BVIEC's Phase V Project. Photo: VINO
The vessel that brought the three Wartsila generators to the territory. Photo: VINO
The vessel that brought the three Wartsila generators to the territory. Photo: VINO
PORT PURCELL, Tortola, VI – The British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) has begun to offloaded its three Wartsila power generating sets for the Phase V Power Development Project, which is geared towards tackling the power woes hitting the territory.

The generators have the capacity to produce in excess of 24 megawatts of power, according to the BVIEC’s Chief Mr Leroy A. E. Abraham. “This signifies the light at the end the tunnel with regards to our woes of electrical issues in the territory. Within the next four to five months, by the end of January (2017), that project would be finished and BVIEC’s generating capacity would have significantly increased.”

For some time now the territory, with the exception of the sister island of Anegada, has been experiencing what many described, as ‘dreadfully’ power woes which have even seen persons and business losing electrical appliances.

Speaking with this news site in an exclusive interview at the Port Purcell Dock on Tortola, where the generators were being off loaded, Mr Abraham said that the last time any base load power was installed within the territory was approximately ten years ago. “So naturally with the load growth within the territory a lot of demand has come on to the system and unfortunately with the fixed generating capacity that we have, we have a very small margin in reference to supplying the territory,” said Mr Abraham.

He said with the installation and commissioning of the three new units, BVIEC will have a significant increase in generating capacity, which would reduce greatly the issues associated with load shedding and power outages.

$40M Project

Minister for Communications and Works Honourable Mark H. Vanterpool (R4) said the activity of this morning was one that was being looked forward to for a long time. “I have to answer a lot of questions everyday about why people’s power is out and why we are load shedding... So this is reassuring today the engines have arrived.”

The Minister explained that the Phase V Project project costs in the region of 40 million dollars.

“It’s couple of phases, one we have completed already, which was bringing transmission lines from the power station in Pockwood Pond to Long Bush so that once these engines are cranked up we would have not just the transmission lines on the coast line as we have already but we would have two alternate lines over the hills to Long Bush… those cost about three and a half million dollars.”

He explained that the original plan was to bring two engines but decided to bring three since the demands were getting higher.

14 Responses to “‘Light at the end of the tunnel’- Leroy A. E. Abraham”

  • 123 (19/08/2016, 13:01) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ok then
  • negative vibes (19/08/2016, 13:12) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    We've been there before and done that and having the same results.
    • nope (19/08/2016, 15:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      The problem engines were NOT Wartsila and the then Board and Minister didn't go through the proper procedures for getting the engines. BVIEC got real equipment now, it's just to have proper engineers and mechanics maintaining them.
  • C'mon Now (19/08/2016, 13:22) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The front row hard-hats look so uncomfortable - especially lil Marco and Mr. Fruity! AS with all past/prior 'upgrades' this too will only be a ten year plan if lucky! The long-term preventative maintenance is what has me worried (past indicators). Wish we had an alternative generation site that was low-carbon footprint utilizing renewable - oh wait that's for Branson!
  • Smile (19/08/2016, 13:55) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    3 beautiful new engines.
    Words brought into action.
  • Street reporter (19/08/2016, 14:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    How often do we have to order engines. How many draw backs these people getting? Ordering of these engines over the years make a lot of people rich. Tax payers getting Rip off mercilessly...
    • Smile (21/08/2016, 11:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hopefully they order engines as often as needed to expand generation capacity to meet demand and reduce blackouts.
      Renewables as they stand right now are only a partial solution, not a full solution.
      So more engines will have to be ordered as demand grows.

      You mean kickbacks (not drawbacks) and you make the statements as if you know something the rest of us don't.
      If you know something, you should let us know.
  • tight (19/08/2016, 14:46) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now make sure you tie them tight to the transport trucks as we dont want them to fall off on the way to the site like happen years ago with the Rolls Royce generators. Good luck and well done.
  • Pun (19/08/2016, 16:43) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    "Light at the end of the tunnel", no pun intended!
  • ha (19/08/2016, 16:50) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Light at da end of da tunnel...train
  • 123 (19/08/2016, 17:01) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good job leroy
  • wize up (19/08/2016, 19:59) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    cant these engines be taken down to pockwood pond via barge rather than on the highway and disrupting traffic and all the other essential services........
  • W*F (20/08/2016, 17:19) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    When I see it, I will believe it.


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