The Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) has signed an $8 million contract with Aggreko to provide an additional 40 megawatts of power over the next nine months, according to BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller.

The corporation engaged Aggreko, the world's largest temporary power generation company, two weeks ago, Miller said.

"We have used them before and we have now contracted them to provide us with 40 megawatts of power.

"Some of that equipment is going to be coming into Nassau as early as this week."

Miller said BEC would extend the duration of the contract if necessary.

Asked whether this move is in preparation for Baha Mar, Miller said, "At peak load Baha Mar right now is [using] under eight megawatts.

"At peak load Baha Mar is projected to use 16 megawatts.

"So, when we get that 40 megawatts, Baha Mar may take 16 and the Bahamian people will take the other 24 megawatts.

"But again, as we have stressed for the last two and a half years, there is a great need for BEC to put up a new power station that is 120 megawatts of power to get us to have plenty reserves.

"We have very little to no reserves."

Frequent outages have plagued the corporation much to the frustration of residents and businesses.

The most recent outage occurred on Saturday.

Miller said a fault on a main line at the corporation's transmission station in Winton around 7 p.m. disrupted supply in eastern New Providence.

He said supply was fully restored around 1 a.m.

Up to yesterday, engineers were still trying to determine the problem on the line.

"I really have to apologize on behalf of everyone because the entire eastern end of New Providence was out for inordinate amount of time," Miller said.

"It was just difficult as we had to transfer that power and use other circuits to restore power to the eastern portion of New Providence.

"...We can't really say it was anyone's fault. These things happen in this industry from time to time. You are going to have those occurrences and this was one of those.

"People do not want to hear any excuses, but that is really what happened."

Miller also said upgrades on the corporation's engines at the Clifton Pier Power Station in preparation for Baha Mar are ongoing.

The upgraded engines are expected to provide an additional 20 megawatts of power. Miller previously projected those upgrades will be completed in May.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian