REMARKS BY MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKS
HONOURABLE MARK VANTERPOOL
AT THE NINTH SITTING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE
THIRD HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2016
10:00 A.M.

Phase V Power Development Project Update

Madam Speaker, the Phase V Power Development Project being undertaken by the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation BVIEC, is well underway and there is definitely more ‘light’ at the end of the tunnel.

This project will add three (3) engines generating a total of 26.7MW of power to the central BVI Grid.

It will also connect the Pockwood Pond Power Station to the facility in Long Bush, using an alternate route via the Paul Wattley Drive.

Madam Speaker, this BVIEC Phase V Development Programme remains on track to be completed by the end of 2016. 

For Package A, which is the Generation Contract, the three (3) engines have already been manufactured.

Officials from the BVIEC visited the Manufacturer’s facility to witness the factory acceptance testing for the first two (2) engines in November 2015 and in April 2016 for the last engine.

Madam Speaker, the engines are now ready for shipment and are expected to arrive in the BVI mid-August 2016.

Turning to the building expansion, the four (4) engine beds are now complete and the steel frame structure is now being erected.

The floor space for the control room has also been completed and most of the equipment is now on site or enroute to BVI.

Madam Speaker, new cables have been installed between Pockwood Pond and the Long Bush facility for the Package B Transmission Contract, and works to extend the Long Bush substation will soon begin to accommodate the new switchgear to facilitate cable termination.

Madam Speaker, I wish to congratulate the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation, its main contractor K-Line International and local sub-contractor Sandwise Limited, for an excellent job with the transmission lines installation, despite some inconveniences.

They were able to expertly minimize these inconveniences and as I said, the project is well underway.

In addition, Madam Speaker, I know that the motoring public has experienced some disruptions to the flow of traffic as the lines were being laid from Pockwood Pond along the main road.

I wish to thank you for your patience during that phase of the project.

I know that we are all looking forward to the successful completion of the BVIEC’s Phase V Power Development Programme.

Thank you Madam Speaker.