Hon. Charle Kirnon
View of the attendants
Mr. Peter White
It was for good reason there seemed some excitement at the groundbreaking of the construction of the long awaited new power plant. It was seen as the beginning of the end of long process of approval and acquisition of funds, failed tendering processes, when finally as for his last public appearances DFID Dr. Kato Kimbugwe was able to say, “…we’ve gone through another tendering process which has delivered a contractor at a really good project cost and we have both the local institutions as well as the international advisory institution in place to help drive this project.”
Following welcome by Montserrat Utilities Ltd. (MUL) manager and prayers by Rev. Kellar MacFarlane, the managing director Peter White in his chairman’s opening remarks gave a brief background of the generating plant project which he said go back to 2003/4 when Mott MacDonald was engaged to do a study of the establishment of a permanent power station in the north. “We have a come long way and today we have overcome most of the obstacles…and reach the point where after asking God’s blessings on the activities which will take place after this ceremony…”
The first speaker was DFID’s representative Dr. Kato Kimbugwe who as described throughout worked long and hard to see the project reach this point. He recounted the launch of the project three years ago, recalling also the challenges. “We’ve had a number of challenges but ultimately the outcome has being something that we all have looked forward to…”
Rev. Kellar MacFarlane
Dr. Cato Kimbugwe
Mrs. Lindorna Brade
He spoke of the economic development: “This project is aimed at addressing one of the major constraints to Montserrat’s economic growth, and that is the power sector. The power sector in any country is critical to economic development. Therefore DIFID’s intervention in supporting the Government of Montserrat in implementing this project was made on the basis that we understand the importance of the energy sector, but also a part of our strategic growth plan for Montserrat which is aimed at getting Montserrat back to financial self-sufficiency.”
Kimbugwe linked the power plant and geothermal development like others did throughout the ceremony. “… getting a power station that is fit for purpose but also can link up with geothermal, is a critical component of the work that we are doing in the power sector and therefore the work on the power station, the geothermal project which is currently on the way as well as the work on a power transmission line between the geothermal station and the new power station are critical pieces of infrastructure in creating an energy sector that not only is conducive to economic development by lowering the cost of doing business in Montserrat…”
Speakers in Mrs. Lindorna Brade from the Ministry of Finance, Paul Lewis representing the MUL board and MUL staff representative and Kendall Lee, all gave their brief comments on the occasion.
Lee recalled, “It was nineteen years ago that we left General Turning Road power station – we have had to produce electricity under conditions that are less than ideal. We’re very pleased that we’re going to see the start of work here on the site of the new power station here at Brades,” he said.
He hoped and “pray for a smooth execution of this project and next year at some point we will see the successful completion.”
He noted, “Our operators in particular would no longer have to run between containers sometimes in the elements, up and down stairs just to control the generators. They’ll have the benefit of a central control room; basically all the control functions at their fingertips,” adding that the electrical and maintenance staff would have the benefit of a purpose built workshop.
Mr. Paul Lewis
Mr. Kendall Lee
Mr. Eamon McElduff
He spoke of the linkages the project will create, that it, “…will become the focal point, …the linkage between this project and all the other initiatives in the energy sector.” The facility, he said, “would be the focal point for all the inputs in terms of generations to the system as the system evolves.”
Mr. Eamon McElduff of Mott MacDonald was on hand and expressed his company’s pleasure that they have endured this far.
Angelique International’s Avinash Gurram spoke of their interest in completing the project which had been hoped to actually get off the ground since February of this year.
Following brief remarks by Hon Charles Kirnon Minister of Communications, Works and Labour, Dion Weekes, the project coordinator gave a vote thanks which was followed by the Minister turning the sod, marking the commencement of the plant construction.
I think we went through a tendering process which did not deliver the outcome that we were expecting and now we are going through another tendering process which has delivered a contractor at a really good project cost and we have both the local institutions as well as international advisory institutions in place to help drive this project.
We launched three years ago at the Cultural Centre here in 2011 and as Peter highlighted we’ve had a number of challenges but ultimately the outcome has being something that we all have looked forward to. We went through a tendering process which did not deliver the outcome we were expecting and now we’ve gone through another tendering process which has delivered a contractor at a really good project cost and we have both the local institutions as well as the international advisory institution in place to help drive this project.
Avinash Gurram
Hon. Charles Kirnon
This project is aimed at addressing one of the major constraints to Montserrat’s economic growth, and that is the power sector. The power sector in any country is critical to economic development. Therefore DIFID’s intervention in supporting the Government of Montserrat in implementing this project was made on the basis that we understand the importance of the energy sector but also a part of our strategic growth plan for Montserrat which is aimed at getting Montserrat back to financial self-sufficiency.
This project should not be seen in isolation. The strategic growth plan speaks about investments in geothermal which are linked to this project. We all can hear the power station up there; it’s not covered during the rainy season. It’s a nightmare for the people who have to work there.
Therefore getting a power station that is fit for purpose but can also link up with geothermal is a critical component of the work that we are doing in the power sector. The work on the power station, the geothermal project which is currently under way as well as the work on a power transmission line between the geothermal station and the new power station is critical pieces of infrastructures in creating an energy sector that not only is conducive to economic development by lowering the cost of doing business in Montserrat but also allows the people of Montserrat to enjoy some of the benefits of the volcano by making sure you have a facility that can take the power that would be generated in Plymouth.
See photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152328176730852.1073741969.203080105851&type=3&uploaded=47
