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Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power PlantAntigua St. John's - Caribarena has received disturbing information regarding the operations of the Chinese Power Plant during Quarter Two of 2012 (April – June).

According to our information, APUA has been mixing the HFO (Bunker C) fuel used by the units at the Power Plant with LFO (Diesel).

The usage of HFO (Bunker C) during the quarter is 1,361,184.24 Ig, which was mixed with 6,488.53 Ig (ratio of 99.9% to 0.1%).



One of the advantages of burning HFO (Bunker C) is a significantly cheaper cost per gallon when compared to LFO (Diesel).

Caribarena has been reliably informed that the price of LFO (Diesel) at the end of June was $11.79/Ig, while the cost of HFO (Bunker C) was $9.69/Ig.

Our research indicates that there are two potential reasons why HFO/LFO mixing would take place.

The first is to reduce engine overheating. HFO needs to be pre-heated to between 104 – 127 degrees Celsius before being combusted in the engine.

LFO (diesel) does not need to be preheated in order to produce energy. As such, mixing the HFO and LFO would decrease the pre-heating requirements, and reduce the viscosity of the HFO.

This allows operators to maintain lower engine temperatures in the case that engines are experiencing overheating malfunctions.

The second reason is to reduce the level of sulfur in the HFO, and by extension, in the engine. High levels of sulfur can cause corrosive damage, as well as contaminating the air and causing Acid Rain.

When a power plant is being designed, the level of sulfur in the HFO is taken into account, and equipment is planned and installed to either handle high sulfur HFO or low sulfur HFO.

A need to reduce the level of sulfur in the engine indicates either incompetent planning or equipment failure at the power plant.

Caribarena is continuing the effort to ascertain exactly which issues are causing the operators at the WPP to mix HFO and LFO.

Furthermore, Caribarena has learned that the fuel efficiency of the power plant has also decreased significantly.

During quarter one, the fuel consumption of the WPP was 48.2 Ig/Mwh, while during quarter two the consumption increased to 52.29 Ig/Mwh.

In June, the WPP produced 6,206 MwH. Under the quarter one fuel consumption rate, this would require 299,129.2 Ig/Mwh.

Under the quarter two fuel consumption rate, over 324,511.74 Ig/Mwh would be needed to produce this energy, a difference of 25,382.54 Ig, or $246,000.00.



However, the most disturbing development was the availability of the Power Plant.

Caribarena has been reliably informed that for significant periods of time in May and June, only 1-2 engines were operating at the Chinese Power Plant.

This is the second time that 5 of the 6 engines have been reported down since they were confirmed to be down between April and May by APUA Electricity Division Manager Lyndon Francis.

Why are 4-5 engines down at the Wadadli Power Plant for a second time since their commissioning only 11 months ago?

Caribarena will continue to investigate the operations of the Chinese Power Plant and keep the public of Antigua and Barbuda informed.

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18 Comments In This Article   

HEADER   

What about recomendations?

#18 It Is Me » 2012-08-16 23:09

What about the 3 man panel advise to cabinet to "open the doors of the power plant"? Did caribarena ask them to go see the documents and power plant yet? What about Observer media? What about our opposition? What are ya'll waiting for to ask for the documents and visit to the plant??? Didn't they say they will be made available???
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It Is Me

@ The Information Commissioners

#17 Jumbee Picknee » 2012-08-15 21:16

Mr. Alister Thomas, your appointment officially begins today, 15th, August, 2012. PLEASE SECURE THE PERTINENT DOCUMENTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. These should/MUST include all from the feasibility study to the present.
You wanted to set things right according to your previous "life" as a Pan Africanist.
Now, that you have been baptised all over again, found salvation in the Church of Politricks under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Doctor B. Spencer, PM, please do as the Lord would, and deliver the TRUTH unto His People for they have sinned and is in need of guidance. The good information is in your hands. DELIVER YOUR SERMON, SPREAD THE WORD, WE WANT TO SING HALELU, HALELU, HALELU
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Jumbee Picknee

Eric you are a jack ass

#16 KARN TEK NO MORE » 2012-08-15 20:12

Apua killing my G** with over high bills,one after the other.is it to feed this piece of **,and to hide corruption.Me really karn tek this no more.
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KARN TEK NO MORE

red

#15 tiga » 2012-08-15 19:52

what do you expect from old engines!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!1
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tiga

lets deal with the real issue

#14 college student » 2012-08-15 17:08

the article with lester has more than 20 comments and this article that is more important has only 13 and ppl wonder why upp are just doing alot of bs in the country and gettimng away with it? i think our time must be more invested in issues like this... i think our main focus should be on these issue and bear in in mind that when that new apua building open is more ppl gonna pay for utilities bill.. lord help us in antigua and barbuda
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college student

@Eric&Concerned

#13 ANTIGUAN WOMAN » 2012-08-15 15:09

Really,you,ll should just keep your mouths shut,this thing with you all trying to justify this is next to treason,it really isnt funny anymore,you all should be ashamed.@ Concerned, FYI,it has already failed,where are you? In lala land,are u benefitting from it? We will not rest until we get justice for this one,so you all may as well just shut your eyes/minds whenever people start talking about this issue,It isnt going away.
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ANTIGUAN WOMAN

Caribarena

#12 tenman » 2012-08-15 14:43

Quote:
“If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions.” Thomas Jefferson
Caribarena, keep shining the light, no matter where. Keep ensuring that we pay attention to whats happening in our name. You help in ensuring that we are properly informed which is necessary for a healthy democracy

..
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tenman

Thanks Carib Arena.

#11 ANTIGUAN WOMAN » 2012-08-15 13:55

The plant owl,that is the bottom line.Time for A,gua to hold the APUA responsible,may be then we will get some answers.They are the ones we pay the ridiculous bills to,time for a boycott.Sometim es in order to acheive,there must be sacrifice.
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ANTIGUAN WOMAN

How Come, How Long?

#10 Big Bad Wolf » 2012-08-15 13:49

Or the song by Babyface

How come, how long
It's not right, it's so wrong
Do we let it just go on
Turn our backs and carry on
Wake up, for it's too late
Right now, we can't wait
ANU won't have a second try
Open up your hearts
As well as your eyes
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Big Bad Wolf

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#9 how long » 2012-08-15 12:40

U2 song perfect for this:
Quote:
I can't believe the news today, Oh, I can't close my eyes And make it go away. How long... How long must we sing this song? How long, how long...
The ALP, Lone wolf, and every other group that wants the truth should work together! ANOTHER MARCH I SAY, AND A REEEAAALL 1 THIS TIME. We dont care about blue or red, we want the truth! We want the corrupt men put in their place, and the old gen-sets put in their place, and the whole frig up government system in its place! enough is enough.

Taxpayers, this power plant belongs to you! it is your property, like your car, like your home. DEMAND THE TRUTH.
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how long

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#8 the joker » 2012-08-15 12:33

if the plant isn't old, it's worthless anyways. and it is old, so it doesn't matter. In any other country people would be sitting in tents around the goddamn building until they get answers. the amount of people and comments on the Lester Bird step down story vs this one shows what antiguans and barbudans really care about.
Eric, while your paying for the fuel, don't forget to add $169,811 USD to that. the RMB has gone up, Antigua and barbudans, open your wallets wide.

300,000,000.0 Chinese Yuan Renminbi = 47,169,811.3208 US Dollar
cny.exchangerates24.com/usd/?q=300000000
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the joker

to eric

#7 the solution » 2012-08-15 11:30

Eric, I found the solution! maybe you can pay the $246,000! After all, this is only drama right? no big deal? So what if the power plant needs another quarter million dollars of fuel every month? No body should care, you've got us covered. Oh, or I know, maybe you can run on a little bicycle and make electricity while 5 of the 6 engines we paid 47 MILLION united states dollars for are down. That way, we won't have the get electricity from independent power producers (the point of the WPP), and you can get some exercise! Work off the fat belly you've grown since the UPP came into office.

I don't know about you, but I can't see no drama here, just engines down and more problems as the supposedly new power plant. :cry:
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the solution

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#6 Eric » 2012-08-15 11:03

Caribareina – You are full of DRAMA – You are making a real effort to keep the power plant issue alive.
The Antiguan people are becoming wise to you.
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Eric

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#5 Smoke n Mirrors » 2012-08-15 10:00

Ah so Antiguans love it. Dem like mediocrity and apparently they liked to be "hood winked" too. David Shoul is a lxxixixy to this country. All of self and nothing for Antigua. You ever heard his business sponsoring anything in Antigua? Even Cool & Smooth sponsor sports.

When will we know the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Will Alister Thomas grant us access to the WPP documents? Will Baldwin be held accountable for blatantly declaring that he broke the law (i.e. not receiving Parliamentary approval). More questions than answers. :sigh:
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Smoke n Mirrors

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#4 Concerned » 2012-08-15 09:57

It really seems like people i rooting for this power plan to fail.
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Concerned

@ Carib Arena

#3 Flames » 2012-08-15 08:14

What you expect? Blood? Wine? Go and take some more pictures...and if the front door locked...what you do?...What you do?...Kick in de back door!
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Flames

@ Carib Arena

#2 Jackie Spense » 2012-08-15 08:11

Why don't you do an interview with David Shoul - since he was the one who negotiated the purchase of the engines?
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Jackie Spense

RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant

#1 dave » 2012-08-15 05:28

thats what u all wanted
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dave

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