WAPA to introduce propane to St. Croix power plant
The U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA) plans to advance the island’s conversion of fuel oil to propane by introducing propane fuel to the Estate Richmond Power Plant on April 5 on St. Croix.
WAPA personnel and Vitol, the territory’s propane conversion contractor, will oversee the introduction of propane to a retrofitted generating unit. WAPA adds that it is implementing several additional precautionary measures for security safeguards in and around the Estate Richmond Power Plant to ensure maximum safety standards are in place during the first phase of commissioning.
The commissioning of the unit follows work that began in 2013 with a contract between WAPA and Vitol. Since then, local and federal permits were secured to fully develop LP gas terminals and the conversion of two units to burn oil, propane and natural gas. Over the last few days, WAPA says the terminal on St. Croix has been undergoing final preparations for the introduction of LP gas to the power plant. It is expected that once the unit is fully commissioned on LP gas, it will remain online to generate electricity for residents and the businesses of St. Croix.
According to Gregory Rhymer, WAPA’s chief operating officer and LP gas project coordinator, a similar commissioning of generating units on St. Thomas will begin in August.