New generators saved 1.7 million litres fuel

The General Manager of the Electric Power Corporation (E.P.C.), Tologata Tile Tuimaleali’ifano, says that new, more efficient diesel generators at Fiaga Power Station have saved 1.7 million litres from being charged to customers.

“E.P.C saved about 1.7 million litres of fuel from using more efficient generators at Fiaga Power Station,” said Tologata.

“This benefit is passed on to consumers through fuel surcharge. “In other words, if Fiaga was not built, 1.7 million more litres will be added to fuel surcharge.”

Tologata was responding to criticism from the Opposition party that there was not enough power capacity at the E.P.C. to meet peak demand, causing power cuts.

He pointed to their press release of 9th April, blaming “fuel contamination” for the Sunday 6th April power cuts. In his response to Samoa Observer yesterday, Tologata went further, dismissing critics who previously criticised the Fiaga Station as too big, but were now saying it was too small.

“Members of the public who do not have any engineering understanding about E.P.C.’s complex system including generators, capacity, network, etc, should not make these incorrect comments because they are misleading.”

“First it was said that government should not have built Fiaga.”

“Now it is said it is not enough.”

“If government did not build Fiaga, E.P.C. could not meet the current power demand.”

Opposition Tautua Samoa Party’s Shadow Minister for E.P.C., Levaopolo Talatonu, last week claimed that the reason for the blackout was simple.

He said E.P.C. needs 19.2megawatts (MW) of electricity for Upolu island.

The problem, he said, is that there is a shortfall of about 2.2MW.

“The total demand capacity for people here in Upolu is 19.2MW and the short fall in power supply is 2.2MW,” he said last week.

Levaopolo said the problem is not new. He claims that every time there is an overload, the power goes off. And Levaopolo’s solution to the shortfall?

“I think E.P.C. should add another generator to cover the shortfall,” he said.

When asked for comment yesterday, Tologata referred to the issue of fuel contamination and their press release. It reads in full: “Fuel Contamination caused power outage “The Electric Power Corporation wishes to confirm that Sunday 6th of April’s power outage to the islands of Upolu and Manono tai was a result of fuel contamination at the Fiaga Power Station.

“This is beyond EPC’s control and EPC is making all remedial efforts to rectify the situation with its fuel supplier.

“Comments made by some members of the public about shortage in capacity is not correct.

“EPC apologises to the public for any inconvenience that this may have caused.”