Bahamas News
BAHAMAS: Statement from Acting COO on Load Shedding
#Nassau, June 25, 2019 – Bahamas – Load shedding is a measure employed by electric utilities when there is insufficient available capacity to meet customer demand. Failure by any power company to manage that supply/demand match could result in more widespread outages up to and including a total system collapse, as generators will eventually shutdown if they become overloaded. This is a built-in failsafe to prevent catastrophic engine damage.
When there is an instance where the demand exceeds the supply, therefore, engineers in the BPL System Control Center implement load shedding to systematically reduce the demand in a controlled manner in order to prevent greater system challenges. The greater the level of generation shortfall, the greater the need to reduce the demand through any available means.
At BPL, that means the implementation of several potential steps. These include shutting off buildings such as government buildings or commercial centers when they are not in use. Other potential steps include asking larger consumers such as hotels to reduce demand or switch in part or totally onto their generators. When necessary, it can mean switching off areas.
Over the past weekend and indeed since about the middle of last week, the loading – or demand – in New Providence exceeded the available supply, so load reduction measures had to be implemented. As per our earlier statement, increasing customer demand due to higher temperatures coupled with generation outages brought about the present situation. Last year, as you know, there was a fire at Clifton Pier which resulted in two of our largest engines being rendered inoperable.
As part of our normal annual preparations in advance of the higher load period, additional generators were taken out of service for maintenance. Two of these units could not be returned as scheduled, given concerns identified during the maintenance works.
Despite these issues, we were still able for the most part to maintain power to New Providence. Last week however, additional generators at the Blue Hills Plant developed problems which resulted in them coming offline and setting up the present generation shortfall. The units were placed online later in the week but failed once again over the weekend.
One of the units that was forced offline fed our heat recovery steam turbine. This unit requires the exhaust gases from the failed unit to heat its boiler and produce energy. Without the engine to provide the exhaust gases, the steam turbine also came offline. This caused a further capacity reduction. On Sunday afternoon, another generator – this time at the Clifton Pier Plant – tripped due to a mechanical problem. These issues caused a significant generation shortfall on Sunday and resulted in load shedding over and above normal load shedding exercises. The load shedding did not end until 1:50AM on Monday morning.
The engine at Clifton Pier was repaired and returned to service. The engines at Blue Hills were also returned to service albeit not at full capacity. The steam turbine was not restored since the output level required from its feed unit was not attained. In the short term, additional rental generation will be commissioned at the Blue Hills Plant to improve the available generating capacity, and reduce the need for load shedding.
Work will also continue at Blue Hills in order to return the units to full output capacity and restore the steam turbine to service. It is projected that this work will take at least another week to ten days (following the arrival of needed spare parts). Finally, it is projected that works on the previously mentioned units that remain on maintenance related activity will be completed in mid to late July. This returned capacity will put our operations on a much stronger footing.
I echo the Chairman’s sentiment in expressing regret at the inability to meet our customers’ expectations over the last week. I also wish to thank the teams for working through the weekend to both repair the impacted units and return them to service, and to expedite the connection of the rental generation. Every effort to complete the needed repairs and return the remaining generators to service will be made.
Thank you.
Release: BPL
Rashaed Esson
Staff Writer
#TheBahamas#RoyalCaribbean, April 23, 2024- After being delayed following its announcement in 2020, Royal Caribbean’s new 17 acre Royal Beach Club on Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is now in the works and is scheduled to be ready for 2025, according to reports. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday April 22, signifying the start of construction in the next few months. This project is huge for The Bahamas as it’s a first of kind for the nation, with a unique public private partnership allowing Bahamians to hold up to 49 percent in equity.
Nassau, THE BAHAMAS — Some of the most successful and accomplished professionals and business leaders in the country
recently shared their experiences and nuggets of wisdom with students at University of The Bahamas (UB) about thriving in a wide range of careers.
The University Centre for Counselling and Career Services and the Career and Job Placement Advisory Unit collaborated to host the 2024 Career Symposium which brought students face to face with leaders in the careers to which they aspire.
Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Oriakhi, said the symposium was key to developing potential as university students strive to leave their mark on the world.
Ms. Rickell Curry
“In the spirit of collaboration and growth, let us engage in meaningful dialogue, cultivate relationships, and harness the power of collective wisdom to shape our futures,” said Dr. Oriakhi. “Together, let us embark on this journey of exploration and discovery, united in our commitment to realizing our fullest potential and making meaningful contributions to our communities and beyond.”
Promoting careers in psychology, Ms. Curry noted that psychologists are equipped with the ability to help others, troubleshoot areas of weakness within themselves, and become better people and professionals in the process.
“The floor is yours to be able to explore. There’s no job where you don’t have to deal with people, so learning, even if you get a bachelor’s in psychology, is a great grounding,” she said.
Dr. Darville, one of few interventional radiologists in The Bahamas, offered another nugget of advice on choosing an area of study.
Dr. Elizabeth Darville
“It is important to know enough about yourself in order to make the decisions you want to make,” said Dr. Darville. “You have to work on yourself first and know what you want to do. Radiology gives you a chance to have fun. It gives you a chance to mold your career closer to your personal life than other medical specialties might.”
Another growing field is project management which Mr. Hepburn called a life skill. He also urged a commitment to lifelong learning.
“Individuals that continue to learn become unstoppable, period,” said Mr. Hepburn. “It is so true. When you learn, you become unstoppable because nothing can stop you in your process of development.
Mr. Wellington Hepburn
“The more you know, the more valuable you are. We need individuals who are cross functional—that can operate in different capacities. So please understand that your learning should never stop.”
With small and medium-sized businesses helping to drive the economy at an incredible rate, Ms. Rolle affirmed the importance of entrepreneurship in any economy.
“When we talk about entrepreneurship, we usually look at it from a myopic standpoint,” she said. Ms. Rolle. “What do I mean by that? Small, but usually about self: ‘how do I make more money?’ And in some cases, some look at entrepreneurship as a way of survival. ‘I need to make a couple extra dollars, I have this bill to pay’. Those types of things.
Ms. Samantha Rolle
“But entrepreneurship really, in its truest form, is about innovation, whether it’s a new concept or any existing concept that you innovate new ways, or help expand the economy.”
The career symposium was held at the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre and is held every academic year.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
- Career Symposium 1: UB Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Maria Oriakhi, delivers the opening address at the 2024 Career Symposium.
- Career Symposium 2: Students and guest speakers enjoy a lighthearted moment during the 2024 Career Symposium.
- Career Symposium 3: Ms. Rickell Curry speaks to students during the 2024 Career Symposium.
- Career Symposium 4: Dr. Elizabeth Darville delivers remarks during the 2024 Career Symposium.
- Career Symposium 5: Mr. Wellington Hepburn educates students on the importance of project management during the 2024 Career Symposium.
- Career Symposium 6: Ms. Samantha Rolle talks about the role and importance of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in any economy.
Office of University Relations
University of The Bahamas
2nd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex
Oakes Field Campus
P.O. Box N-4912
Nassau, The Bahamas
Tel: (242) 302-4355/4354/4365
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