Published On:Tuesday, June 01, 2010

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

THE Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) is planning to truck fuel to its controversial $105 million Wilson City power plant, abandoning plans for a fuel dock and pipeline at the project which is said to be "90-95 per cent completed" on construction.

Kevin Basden, BEC's general manager, in an affidavit filed with the Supreme Court on May 28, 2010, also revealed that the Wilson City plant's operational start had been pushed back to the end-third quarter/start of the fourth quarter 2010, due to the change in fuel.

"I confirm that BEC is actively engaged in negotiations with its supplier for an agreement for the fuel required to operate the Wilson City Power Plant to be transported to the plant site via fuel trucks, instead of via the proposed pipeline and docking facility," Mr Basden said.

"It is anticipated that these negotiations will be concluded very shortly. Should the negotiations be successful there will not be a need for the pipeline and docking facility at this time.

"Circumstances and technology may change in the future, which might make it desirable or even necessary to once again pursue the pipeline option. As circumstances and technology may change in the future, we do not rule out such possibility. For example, should the option of operating the plant on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) arise, trucking will likely not be a viable option."

It is unclear how opponents of the BEC power plant, especially Responsible Development for Abaco (RDA) and the environmental lobby, will react to the prospect of fuel being trucked to the site, rather than being delivered by sea. RDA's case is currently being tried in the Supreme Court before Justice Hartman Longley.

"At present, the construction of the power plant is now estimated to be 90-95 per cent completed," Mr Basden added.

"Initially, it was anticipated that construction of the power plant would be in operation by the end of July/early August of 2010. As a result of the decision being made to use a lighter fuel oil (ADO) instead of the heavy fuel oil (Bunker C).

Generators

"However, it became necessary for the generators of the power plant to be modified. As a consequence of these modifications, the projected date for the power plant to become operational has been revised to the end of the third quarter or early fourth quarter 2010."

Ms Basden's affidavit also disclosed that the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Wilson City was still being developed, and was scheduled for completion next month.

This will then be submitted to the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission for review, with a copy also published on BEC's website, Mr Basden promised, so that "interested parties" could submit their views and input on it.