Five days after the Lethem Power Plant was repaired following prolonged blackouts, it is down again.
Residents were gathered at various parts of Lethem on Tuesday to watch the much vaunted Brazil team play North Korea in the World Cup. The Brazilian television channel was showing clips of their team in training. The atmosphere was electric, filled with the expectancy of Brazil’s flair and a likely thrashing of the DPRK. The television host knew how to whip an audience into “shape,” and everyone was getting into the football spirit.
Those expectations and great anticipatory celebrations were dashed to pieces when, at 2 pm, the place was pitched into silence. There was a cry of “oh no! not again!” This cry was as if rehearsed as it was done in unison. That was the scene at the shop this reporter was in when the power went off.
When SN visited the powerhouse at 2:10 pm the Manageress and staff were watching the proceedings using a battery-operated backup system. When asked what the problem was with the plant, the Manageress informed SN that she was not in receipt of the information as yet. When asked for the engineer, the Manageress left for the plant area and returned a few minutes later. Again SN asked her what the problem might be and her response was “I didn’t find out.” SN was then informed that the engineer “will be ready to speak with you in about a half an hour to an hour.”
When SN returned at 4:06 pm, the engineer informed that “it was not a major problem, that a ring is gone.” He assured SN that power would be on yesterday.
In the meantime, the small engine was put into operation and power was being supplied on a staggered basis.
SN visited again yesterday at 3:15 pm and the small engine was still on. When asked for an update, the manageress said that the part did not arrive as expected.
When SN spoke with knowledgeable persons, they said that once the problem relates to the rings then it is a major one. One mechanic said that the whole engine head will have to be dismantled and the rings removed and replaced. He said that this would be about two days’ work.