In Lethem the lights go on and off, six hours at a time. Like in the not too distant past, residents in the community on the border with Brazil are learning to live with power rationing again.
Just over two years ago, a new 750 KVA FG Wilson generator replaced a problematic 600 KVA generator. “It’s a little bit surprising to me that it developed this kind of problem,” said Daniel Gajie, a businessman in the rapidly growing community.
Residents expected that with the installation of the new plant, their power woes would cease but last week Sunday, it malfunctioned and the smaller generator, pressed into operation, cannot fulfil the demand at peak times. So power is rationed. The reason for the breakdown is not known to residents.
“They ain saying nothing to nobody. They ain really telling the public anything,” said one man. Other residents complain of the same thing. The man adds that he has heard that a technician is working to fix the problem. Gajie said that a part was needed from the UK and it was supposed to arrive in the country last Friday. He said that cold storage facilities, meat centres, hotels and gas stations are among those businesses affected.
Residents thought there was light at the end of the tunnel when a company expressed an interest in rehabilitating the long-defunct Moco-Moco hydro station. Nothing has been done since Prime Minister Samuel Hinds announced over two years ago that government was on the verge of finalizing an agreement to rehabilitate the plant.
Gajie said that there had not been any genuine interest shown by the Brazilians, but a local company with Brazilian partners responded to a request for proposals to rehabilitate the Moco-Moco hydropower station but did not get a response from the government. “That was the only group that responded to the request,” he said. He said the Brazilians had built hydropower plants in that country and had the experience, knowledge and equipment.
The Moco-Moco hydro-power station is in ruins. “It has to be rebuilt entirely. The only thing that can be used is the forebay and the penstock,” Gajie said. He said the two turbines have long been vandalized since there is no security at the location and it is not advisable that the pipes be used since some amount of rust and deterioration have occurred. Even if the station is fixed, it may not be able to serve the growing population since the capacity is small – only half a megawatt – about what Lethem utilizes at peak hours, he said.
Residents said they had planned to protest the situation but it is not clear if they will go ahead. Some have experienced water shortages during the blackouts and some businesspersons have lost goods. They have called on the government to intervene. In the meantime, the lights go on for six hours, then for six hours, they are off.
