In the previous crisis, he added, there was also a shortage of skilled technicians and a distracted management which aggravated the situation.
“It would be unconscionable now for us to allow things to worsen knowing what we know. Resources can be made available, but we have to go after them,” he said.
CUC needs to overhaul four engines to avoid frequent power interruptions. The total cost will be $3.85 million, Malae said.
Rehiring Aggreko is not an option, he added.
”We have to pay now for the engine overhauls or pay much more, later, to recover from catastrophic failures,” he said.
In 2008, CUC contracted Aggreko to augment the power generation needs on Saipan while the power engines at Power Plant 1 were undergoing repair.
Malae said CUC must replace its old engines with more efficient ones in the next seven to 10 years.
Right now, he added, Engine 8 is half way through its overhaul.
He said it will take about 12 months to complete the overhaul and repair job.
“You cannot overhaul more than two engines at any given time,” he added.
According to Malae, the overhauls and repairs are affordable if revenues are allotted for the power plant.
But there are so many other critical power-related needs, including oil cleanup, that also require CUC’s attention, he said.
“The oil situation and power plant problems did not occur the last two years. They were brewing and accumulating over the last 10 to 15 years,” he said.
Malae has this advice to CUC clients so they can help prevent another power crisis: “Encourage tourism.”
