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Wednesday, 15 August 2012 02:31
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By caribarena news
Antigua 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.
18 Comments In This Article
What about recomendations?
It Is Me
@ The Information Commissioners
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
Jumbee Picknee
Eric you are a jack ass
KARN TEK NO MORE
red
tiga
lets deal with the real issue
college student
@Eric&Concerned
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Caribarena
..
tenman
Thanks Carib Arena.
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
How Come, How Long?
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
Big Bad Wolf
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
Quote: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.
how long
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
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
the joker
to eric
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.
the solution
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
The Antiguan people are becoming wise to you.
Eric
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
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.
Smoke n Mirrors
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
Concerned
@ Carib Arena
Flames
@ Carib Arena
Jackie Spense
RE: Fuel Mixing at Chinese Power Plant
dave
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