Forty percent of Tortola’s electrical infrastructure has been restored, along with 50 percent of Virgin Gorda’s and 90 percent of Anegada’s, Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool announced Monday.
“That should be happening relatively soon,” he said. “We’re pretty close to getting that energised and out to Jost Van Dyke.”
Prior to Hurricane Irma, the territory’s peak electrical demand was 34 megawatts, according to the minister. The BVIEC is now generating 13.2 megawatts, and several engines are ready to produce an additional 19 megawatts when the distribution system is repaired enough to require it, he explained.
“This is a significant achievement and I recognise the BVIEC and all those who lent their assistance for a job well done so far,” Mr. Vanterpool said.
Damage and reconstruction
In his statement, the minister said the storm destroyed an estimated 90 percent of the territory’s transmission and distribution grid.
This included damage to roughly 12,000 poles, 400 miles of conductor cable, and 2,200 pole-mounted transformers, as well as 3,500 streetlights, he explained.
Mr. Vanterpool thanked the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, a regional association, for sending teams of linesmen from other Caribbean jurisdictions to aid with the reconstruction effort.
“At the peak, there were teams of up to 75 linesmen on the ground, from Aruba, Belize, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” he said. “The government of the Virgin Islands is also grateful to the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, who worked with BVIEC to hire a private firm, Valard Construction LP, to provide 27 linesmen and support equipment.”
60 linesmen
There are currently 60 linesmen working throughout the territory, 40 of whom are from overseas, Mr. Vanterpool explained in response to a question from opposition member Julian Fraser (R-D3) during the House of Assembly sitting on Monday.
Mr. Fraser asked the minister if he thought that was adequate.
“No, we don’t think it’s adequate, but we have been aggressively pursuing more linesmen,” Mr. Vanterpool responded. “I know we have an additional 22 expected out of Canada by courtesy of the UK government funding, and we are also engaging another group from the Caribbean — approximately 50 linesmen that we are trying to contractually arrange to be here in the very near future.”
The opposition member also asked Mr. Vanterpool when he thought the Third District would have power fully restored.
In response, the minister outlined the BVIEC’s various challenges, including both manpower shortages and logistical issues acquiring material.
“It is extremely difficult to predict, with any degree of accuracy, when each of the remaining parts of the territory presently without power will receive electricity in totality,” he said.
Arrears
During Monday’s sitting, Opposition Leader Andrew Fahie (R-D1) quizzed Premier Dr. Orlando Smith (R-at large) about debts owed to the BVIEC by central government and various statutory bodies.
Dr. Smith responded by saying that central government’s debt to the BVIEC was brought down to $5.9 million by a recent payment of $5 million on Oct. 9.
The BVI Health Services Authority still owes more than $9 million, the Recreation Trust owes more than $1.9 million, and the BVI Airports Authority owes about $145,000, in addition to various smaller amounts owed by other statutory bodies, the premier added.
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