The Phase V Power Development Programme is expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year, while the system is slated to be online by the end of February.

Premier and Minister of Finance, Dr. the Honourable, D. Orlando Smith, OBE while delivering his 2017 Budget Address said his Government remains committed to upgrading the electrical infrastructure.

The Premier in his address themed ‘Charting the Course: Positioning the Virgin Islands for the Future’at the Fourth Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly on January 16 said, “The Phase V Development Programme is well advanced and nearing completion and will no doubt, bring to an end both unscheduled outages and load shedding.”

Meanwhile, Deputy General Manager for the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC), Mr. Henry Creque said two of the three Wartisila generators are scheduled to be commissioned next month.

This will add16.2 megawatts to the existing grid which should assist in reducing load shedding. With the final generator expected to be online in the second quarter, the extra capacity will reach approximately24.3 megawatts. After the completion of Phase V, the Territory’s electrical power supply will have a capacity of 57.5 megawatts which is a 47 percent increase after units 1, 2 and 11 (sum capacity 5.5 megawatts) are retired.

The current demand for electricity is approximately34 megawatts before Phase V Power Development Programme.

The Ministry of Communications and Works says that this project will ensure that load shedding is significantly reduced and even eliminated. It says that plans are already being made to increase the power supply for the future, while renewable energy in underconsideration.

The Government is committed to providing sustainable energywith completion of the Phase V Power Development Programme.

More facts about Phase V Power Development Programme:

• Groundbreaking for Phase V, March 23, 2015.
• Phase V includes an expansion to the Pockwood Pond building, 3 new Wartsila generators with a total capacity of 24.3 MW and the installation of two 34.5 KV transmission cables between Pockwood Pond and Long Bush.
• 4.5 MW temporary plants were installed to help offset load shedding, December 2015.
• Contractors:  Generation system – Wartsila, Finland    

                             Transmission system – K Line, Canada.

• The BVI’s electricity generation is 99 percent dependent on imported fossil fuels.