Installation of new MAN sets nearing completion, commissioning engineers begin arriving

Installation site on September 16th 2010 (photo by Erasmus Williams)

ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 6TH 2010 (CUOPM) – All of the major components have been installed at the site of the two new generators.

This has been disclosed by Superintendent at the Needsmust Power Plant Mr. Kevin Bennett, who said that mainly finishing work is being carried out at the moment on the two 4.0MW Holeby gensets from MAN Diesel.

“The engines and alternators and the radiators have already been installed. The building enclosures have already been constructed. The tank farm has already been built. The change over modules, booster modules and ring main for the fuel have already been assembled. The compressors, the MCC (Motor Control Center) panels and the generator control panels have already been installed,” Mr. Bennett said.

He added that the only work which remains is complete are some pipe work, electrical connections as well as some finishing work on one of the buildings.

Mr. Bennett said one of Electrical Commissioning Engineer is expected to arrive Tuesday from Singapore to begin work on commissioning all the electrical components.

Installation site on October 5th 2010 (photo by Erasmus Williams)

Another electrical engineer arrives next week and a third commissioning engineer arrives on the weekend to commission the Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and Diesel modules and centrifuges.

Mr. Bennett disclosed that the MAN commissioning Engineer arrives on October 11th and will be responsible for the commissioning of the engines.

Two more generators are expected to arrive here shortly and are expected to be commissioned by February next year. The four gensets were purchased at a cost of US$22 million.The largest engine at the Needsmust Power Plant, a 7.6 MW set, was damaged by fire in 2008 and two Caterpillars sets purchased between 1989 and 1995 had to be removed from service due to their long history of failures and problems, poor fuel efficiency and extreme unreliability.Between 2007 and 2011 the Ministry of Public Utilities would have procured a total of seven (7) 4.0MW Holeby engines costing approximately US$38.2 million.