Jamaica Public Service Company has advised that the Company will be investing US$9.5 Million (over J$845 Million) to add approximately 11 Megawatts (MW) of generating capacity to the national grid.
The Company has invested US8.5 Million of this amount to add 10MW at its Bogue Power Station in Montego Bay, as part of its generation expansion programme. This investment, which has been underway since 2008, will see JPS maximizing output from combined cycle plant, through the installation of an Air Inlet Cooling System. The objective of the Inlet Cooling project is to reduce temperatures on the combined cycle units to a level that can facilitate the optimal production of electricity. This upgrade will result in additional power being made available to the national grid, at a time when the country is seeing its highest level of demand for electricity. This additional capacity will be commissioned into service next month.
This is just one of the several small projects being undertaken by the Company to enhance its generation capacity. JPS is spending another US$1Million to rehabilitate its Constant Spring hydro station in St. Andrew, which will add another one megawatt of capacity to the grid. The Company is working in tandem with the National Water Commission for the recommisioning of this hydro plant later this year. The upgrading of the Constant Spring plant is far advanced, with the generator and turbine repaired and installed. When completed, the plant will also boast modern state-of-the-art controls and equipment, which will allow it to operate reliably and remotely.
In addition, last year in response to a request for proposals, JPS received conditional approval from the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) for two renewable projects in St. Elizabeth. In light of this, the Company is currently exploring the option of adding 9 MW of renewable power, with the construction of a new hydroelectricity plant in Maggotty, and a wind plaza in Munroe.
The projects are being financed through a combination of cash flow generated from operation and loan funding obtained through-out the year.