PHILIPSBURG--While there will be a delay in its acquisition, utilities company GEBE still plans to acquire a new generator for the country, as one is needed.
Chief Operations Officer (CEO) Kenrick Chittick told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that a new engine is “very much needed” for the country. Many of the company’s large consumers such as major hotel properties are expected to come back online in 2019 and some of the current engines in GEBE’s possession are very old.
“We have some engines that are from Noah’s time,” Chittick said in jest, alluding to how aged some of the engines are.
He said the new engine, which will be Engine #21 will probably be acquired in 2019 or 2020. A new engine is estimated to cost some NAf. 30 million.
The company also plans to pursue the use of liquid natural gas (LNG), which is more economical and environmentally friendly. GEBE acquired its latest generator, Engine 20, in 2016. The latter, which went into operation in December 2016, has an output of 11.3 megawatts and is capable of running on LNG, heavy fuel oil and diesel fuel.
