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Satala power plant to be dedicated Thursday morning

[photo: ASPA]
reporters@samoanews.com

In this recent photo provided by the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) is an aerial view of ASPA’s new Satala Power Plant, which replaced the one that was completely destroyed by the September 2009 tsunami. The previous power plant was located yards away from the new power plant, that ASPA executive director Utu Abe Malae told the governor’s cabinet meeting yesterday will be officially dedicated Thursday morning (tomorrow).

Utu said the plant will provide 24.5 megawatts of electricity and the facility is a bit larger than the previous plant. He told directors that if they plan to visit the Satala area, to listen if they will hear any noise coming from the new power generators at the plant.

“I don’t think you will hear anything, as the temporary engines have been shut down,” he said, adding the “noise abatement is very important to this power plant” and this issue is very important to homes nearby at the backside of the property.

All cabinet members are invited to attend the official dedication ceremony.

He also revealed that temporary generators will be removed and the land — where the temporary generators are located now — will be leased to StarKist. He explained that this land lease is separate from the one that StarKist is seeking for its freezer cold storage (see separate story in today’s edition for details on this StarKist project.)

Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga said, “what’s very important” when it comes to the ASPA operation is reducing the cost of electricity. “The bottom line is to reduce electric costs for the public,” he said, adding that he and Lt. Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga had given many things to Utu to get it done. For example, Lolo said it was last week that he asked Utu to find ways to help the cannery.

According to information provided yesterday by ASPA, total cost of the Satala Power Plant project is $56 million — with $36.5 million from the US Federal Emergency Management Agency and $19.5 million by ASPA.

The engine’s make and model: General Electric 16V250. The generators use Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel.