South Rivers power station rehabilitation progressing

Rehabilitation work at the South Rivers Power Plant, owned and operated by St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC), is progressing. Work at this location, which commenced in late 2015, forms part of a larger project to upgrade all three hydro power stations at Richmond, Cumberland and South Rivers.

To date, a new 11kV switchgear room has been constructed on the station compound {{more}} and new 11kV switch gear equipment has been installed. Furthermore, a gantry (steel tower) was constructed to host the outgoing distribution lines for the 11kV feeders.This new gantry replaces several rotting wooden poles that that were located in an area that is difficult to access.

The office building is being renovated and construction work is also ongoing inside the power station building, where an area is being enclosed to house the 400 volts switchgear and alternator control panels. Other civil works are also being undertaken to refurbish and improve the structure to make it more functional.

The old woodstave pipes along the route are being replaced by Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP). To date, approximately 35 per cent of the pipeline route from the power Station to the headworks is completed. These new pipes are being buried (approximately 6 ft) along the route, as opposed to being installed above ground. These GRP pipes are 900 millimetres in diameter and will allow for greater efficiency, less maintenance and more protection from vandalism, natural disasters and the elements.

The South Rivers rehabilitation project is one of the major capital projects being undertaken by VINLEC this year. This station was the first hydro power facility built in St Vincent and commenced operations in 1952. While regular upgrade and maintenance works have been undertaken at South Rivers, there has never been a major rehabilitation project at the location. The project is estimated to cost 6.4 million EC dollars.

Once the physical work is completed, the technical team will begin a series of tests ahead of the official recommissioning of the station. It is anticipated that the station will be fully functional during the fourth quarter of 2016.