CUC Executive Director Antonio Muna said the two large Mitsumi engines on Rota, which produce 1.5 to 1.7 megawatts, are having problems.
The Caterpillar is only producing 0.5 megawatt while the actual demand for the island is from 1.6 to 1.8 megawatts, he said.
According to Muna, the program to upgrade power efficiency on Rota is in anticipation of the casino industry that will eventually boost the economic activities and increase the power consumption of the island.
“To meet the demand right now, in anticipation of the casino industry, we are going to revisit the plan,” Muna said. “We have make sure that we will accomplish it.”
Recently, the Rota legislative delegation requested Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to reprogram the $769,000 allotted for the island’s wastewater project to partially fund the overhaul of CUC’s power generation, distribution and purchase of collateral equipment and materials on Rota.
The estimated cost of the engine repair is $1,096,000, the legislative delegation said.
The legislators said CUC’s electric power generation on Rota is “in a state of major disrepair which, if left in such a state, will lead to a major disruption of electric utility service” on the island.
In undertaking the repair and maintenance of its engines on Rota, CUC will buy power from Rota Resort to sustain the power distribution on the island.
The resort has excess power generated by its own power unit that produces 3 megawatts.
To minimize power outages, CUC usually gets power from Rota Resort whenever its engines are undergoing maintenance.
Muna said they are avoiding a “previous mistake” when the repair and maintenance were undertaken before an unavoidable power interruption occurred.
