Malfunctioning generators trigger blackouts in Antigua

The Friars Hill power station broke down on Thursday

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent

Monday, January 31, 2005

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua:  Engineers at two of the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) generating plants are carrying out investigations into what caused the machines to malfunction causing several communities to experience blackouts for the past six days.

Andrea Matthias, the company's chief electrical engineer, explained that the main plant at the Crabbs Power Station has been out of commission for several days and the company suffered a further set back of sorts when the station located on the Friars Hill Main Road was "knocked off line" last Thursday.

A team of experts from Japan's Toshiba Company, manufacturers of the failed engine, are on island carrying out several tests of the unit at Crabbs but admitted that a solution to the problem has not bee found as yet.

A report on the popular Radio Observer Friday, stated that the privately owned Antigua Power Company is presently supplying most of the electricity the island requires.

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