BPL preparing to construct Station D

Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) is preparing for the construction of Station D, which will house almost 100 megawatts (MW) of new power at the Clifton Pier Power Station, Bahamians heard during a virtual stakeholder consultation meeting last week Thursday, where BPL executives explained that the station will be built with or without funds from the upcoming rate reduction bond (RRB).

BPL Executive Director Patrick Rollins said in the meeting that the RRB will likely be placed successfully next year, but explained that other financing options for Station D remain for the power company to consider.

“We hoped to place it this year, COVID-19 has delayed the placement of the rate reduction bond,” said Rollins.

“As we get out of COVID-19, we believe early next year, we are highly certain that we will move forward with the rate reduction bond and get it successfully placed.”

When asked about a scenario where the RRB is not successful, Rollins said, “We have other financing options that we can consider.”

As negotiations related the sale of New Providence’s power production assets between BPL and Shell North America continue, both entities have agreed to allow BPL to build Station D, Rollins said.

He explained that while Shell was initially going to build Station D and a liquefied natural gas plant at the close of the deal between them, their prolonged talks have convinced BPL to carry out the construction ahead of the deal.

According to BPL executives, six new Wärtsilä engines creating about 18 MW each will be housed in Station D and will replace some the company’s aging generators. Construction of the facility could take 14 months and the station will have a life of 25 to 40 years.

Through its consultants, SEV Consulting Group, BPL still has to include stakeholder comments into its environmental impact assessment (EIA), submit the EIA to the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection (DEPP) and develop an environmental management plan for submission to the DEPP following its approval of the EIA. 

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/bpl-preparing-to-construct-station-d/