Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – The Minister of Energy and Utilities, Hon. Konris Maynard, confirmed that the genset overhaul at the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) was a strategic precursor to the construction and commissioning of the Basseterre Desalination Plant.
When the 2 million gallon per day desalination plant goes online in a few months, it will consume approximately 10% of the electricity output SKELEC produces to satisfy the demand for electricity on the island.
SKELEC produces approximately 26 megawatts of electricity daily. According to the minister, about 2 megawatts of that amount will be required to operate the desalination plant.
Speaking at the joint press conference organized by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities and Domestic Transport and the Ministry of Information, Communication, Technology and Post on June 5, Minister Maynard recounted how SKELEC’s upgrade of its seasoned and overworked generators was intended to buffer the high energy cost of desalination.
Minister Maynard said:
“SKELEC undertook a project to upgrade itself, and […] employed temporary power supply [to] overhaul a number of the existing gensets, specifically to be ready for this moment with the desal coming onstream.”
In addition to the upgrades, the minister mentioned SKELEC’s general progress in transitioning towards renewable energy – a move which could assist with reducing the operating costs of the desalination plant.
Visit mopieudt.gov.kn, water.gov.kn, and SKELEC.KN for additional information.
