$18 million expansion project ongoing at VINLEC power plant

A project aimed to improve the efficiency and reliability of the generation capacity at the St Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC), is ongoing at the Company’s Cane Hall Power Plant. The Cane Hall Generation Expansion Project, estimated to cost an estimated EC$17.5-EC$18 million, will see the installation of two new Wartsila Units (generators).

The execution of this project is influenced by the need for new and more efficient generating capacity to reliably meet system demand in the country, at least economic cost, a release from VINLEC states.

The dismantling of the two generators, which will be replaced, have been completed and the dismantled parts are being stored on island before being eventually disposed of overseas. The design for the civil works was completed and construction work started in April. Among the works listed are the demolition and recasting of the annex roof, the reconstruction of the engine block foundations and civil works outside the Power Station Building. These works are scheduled to be completed this month. The mechanical and electrical installation are set to commence in early July.

The generator sets will be shipped from Finland and are expected in St. Vincent in August. Already, fourteen containers with auxiliary equipment have arrived in two shipments and are being stored at the Lay Down area next to the Power Station.

VINLEC’s Project team is working in partnership with a Project Civil Engineer in Finland, and an onsite Manager from Wartsila to ensure the success of the project. The VINLEC team includes: Manager, Engineering – Vaughn Lewis, Project Manager – Mark Lulley, Plant Engineer Cane Hall – Inga Jackson, Senior Generation Engineer – Augustus Ambrose, Protection and Automation Engineer – Mikous Augustus, Senior Transmission and Distribution Engineer – Ricky Wright, Senior Planning Engineer – Morrison Creese and Plant Engineer Lowmans Bay – Rohan Robertson.

The project is expected to be completed in October after the testing and commissioning phases of the Units (generators).