Jun 03 - Gibraltar Electricity Authority Regrets “Excessive Smoke” From ex-MOD Power Station
The Gibraltar Electricity Authority says it “notes with regret” the concerns of the public regarding excessive smoke being emitted yesterday morning from the ex-MOD Power Station.
Yesterday morning the GEA’s 11,000 volt distribution system showed signs of instability. Such situations are often associated with a potential high voltage cable failure and this could have caused power outages for consumers.
At the time, the GEA generating sets were producing 100% of Gibraltar’s power needs and, since the potential fault was suspected to be within the ex-MOD high voltage distribution system, the GEA took the decision to isolate this supply.
This required the starting of Unit 12 at the ex-MOD Power Station with a view to ensuring that a possible developing fault would result in minimum disruption and avoid a widespread power cut.
Unfortunately, largely because these engines are now rarely used, the operation of Unit 12 resulted in excessive smoke being emitted during the engine start-up procedure. Unit 12 was operational for just under two hours from 1105hrs to 1300hrs.
The GEA says it regrets and apologises for any inconvenience to the public adding that it is current GEA policy to only use these old units in exceptional circumstances to avoid power outages or wider problems.
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