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Brooks: Inauguration of new plant a triumph for people of St. Maarten
The Daily Herald - CAY BAY--Utilities company GEBE Managing Director William Brooks calls the inauguration of the power plant expansion and the two new 11.3-mega watt engines as a triumph for the power plant's employees and the people of St. Maarten.
Island Council members, GEBE employees, and representatives of generator manufacturer Wärtsilä and the private sector were on hand to witness the inauguration and to hear Brooks say, "In the midst of the turmoil, the men and women at this power plant continued to do everything within their power to keep the lights on."
Island in Total Blackout for More than Five Hours---Short Circuit and Computer Failures May Have Contributed .
SMNN - Philipsburg:--- Two days after GEBE held its party to celebrate the inauguration of their two new generators that were installed some three months ago, the island residents were thrown into an island wide blackout, which lasted more than five hours on Sunday evening. While GEBE did not say, what was the cause of the blackout until late Sunday night SMN News learnt that a some sort of short circuit was the main cause. Sources say that for some unknown reason the computer system was tripping out the Zagersgut substation, which caused the power company to lose power for more than five hours. Electricity went off just after 5 pm and power was restored after 9 pm. Up to late Sunday night the exact cause of the computer problems were not identified. "The computer was not allowing the engines to start up for one reason or another" one source said.
Island wide power outage caused by short in feeder cable
PHILIPSBURG - A short in one of two feeder cables leading to the Zagersgut Substation triggered a complete blackout on the Dutch side of the island late Sunday afternoon. The emergency protection systems at the Cay Bay Power Plant were triggered completely shutting down the power plant for a number of hours Sunday evening. [More....]
GEBE inaugurates two new engines
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - Commissioner Theo Heyliger and Lt. Governor of St. Maarten Franklin Richards, joined the celebration on Friday as GEBE inaugurated their two new engines. The ceremony was held on Friday afternoon at the companies Cay bay Power Plant facilities.
Cay Bay oil spill still not cleared
SXM Island Times - CAY BAY--Rodrick Carty of the Seaside Nature Park has brought to the attention of The Daily Herald that the oil spill on the Cay Bay beach near his establishment caused by a fault in electricity company GEBE's waste treatment system last week Thursday has not yet been cleared up.
Carty observed the oil being washed up onto the beach front Wednesday afternoon when heavy swells engulfed the area. According to Reuben Thompson of St. Maarten Pride Foundation, the oil that had soaked into the sand in the ocean as a result of sedimentation is now being stirred up by the heavy swells.
Major grease blockage causes sewage back-up into homes
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--At least four homes and a number of businesses were flooded with raw sewage on Wednesday night while a crew from Windward Roads was clearing the main sewage line of extreme clogging by grease deposits. The sewage backed up into the pipes that connect the homes and businesses to the main sewage line and literally exploded through the toilet bowls.
The flow of sewage lasted for several minutes, sending residents into a panic and out of their homes. Adding insult to their injury, the residents said they could not get a straight answer from Windward Roads or Government about who is going to be held responsible for the damage to their property.
GEBE New Generators Have Electrical Failures ---Plans to Purchase Additional Generator in 2011.
The Daily Herald - Philipsburg:--- The operational manager of GEBE power plant Kenrick Chittick told reporters on Monday that the current power outages from GEBE is caused mainly because GEBE have been experiencing some electrical failures with its two new generators. Chittick said while they have reduced the length of time for the power outages, the electrical failures they are faced with is nothing new or out of the ordinary. He said even with the old generators they are having the same type of problem; Chittick said on several occasions the engines just shut down because of a short circuit and tripping.
GEBE says everything being done to reduce inconvenience to public
The Daily Herald - PHILIPSBURG--Malfunctions, short circuits and unforeseen circumstances can always occur with any type of new machinery, GEBE management says. Senior members briefed the media yesterday on several issues that have affected the community as well as the company recently.
GEBE's Chief of Operations Kenrick Chittick provided a technical explanation of the problems the new 11.3-megawatt (MW) generators have been encountering, resulting in a spate of power outages in the last two weeks.
New measures being taken to contain future oil spills says GEBE
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A press conference was held on Monday afternoon at which time GEBE chief of operations at the power plant Mr. Kenrick Chittic, gave an explanation for last weeks oil leak from the power plant that contaminated the Cape Bay Beach.
In his explanation Chittic stated that the company realised that their waste oil handling system was overloaded with oil at approximately 6:30am last week Thursday.
Residents not satisfied with service from GEBE
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A group of individuals are not satisfied with the explanation from GEBE about the spate of power outages last week and are calling on the community to speak out and take action against the poor service from the utility company.
Christopher Emmanuel, speaking on behalf of the group, said the statement from GEBE about the cause of the power outages, is vague and the company is out of touch with the citizens of the country.
