The immediate solution to shorten the power rationing is to use the Ngerulmud generator which has a capacity of at least one megawatt.
But Ken Uyehara, PPUC general manager, said it will take at least two weeks to get the Ngerulmud generator working.Uyehara said the generator will shorten the power rationing hours.He added, however, that Ngerulmud’s is a back-up generator that cannot be used for 24 hours and will only be online from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.PPUC, he added, is facing challenges when it comes to purchasing parts needed to repairs engines.PPUC has ordered parts for the Caterpillar engine at the Malakal plant, but these are expected to arrive in Palau within 45 days.PPUC is trying to expedite their arrival and expect to get them in two weeks time, Uyehara said.But the process of procuring parts for the big engines at the Malakal plant will take at least a month, he added.There is a power deficiency of at least 2 megawatts as the two power plants can only produce a total capacity of at least 10 megawatts.Uyehara said the peak load is about 11. 6 megawatts.Four of the eight engines at the Malakal plant are down and the running engines can only produce 3.5 megawatts while the Aimeliik plant can produce 6.5 megawatts only.President Johnson Toribiong told reporters that the Japan-Palau International Friendship Association has offered to assist Palau in finding ways to end the power crisis.Toribiong said he will bring up the issue when he visits Japan this month.“It is my obligation to seek any help,” he added.
