A GENERATOR at the incinerator which usually supplies the Island with around 5% of its annual electricity requirements is still out of action, the government has confirmed.
Cracks were discovered on part of the energy recovery facility’s turbine during a routine inspection in November.
The fault was only made public this month after the details of a ministerial decision were published.
Within an accompanying report it was revealed that the Treasury Minister had authorised the transfer of £325,000 from the government’s general reserve to the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department budget for losses incurred in November and December last year.
This was, the report said, due to the department normally being paid by Jersey Electricity for generating power for the Island’s grid. Instead, it added, the department have been forced to buy electricity to keep the incinerator running.
In a statement, a government spokesperson said: ‘Cracks were found on the turbine generator during a routine service and inspection. The root cause of the cracks is not yet known.’
An independent turbine specialist has been contracted to assess the problem and advise on a solution.
‘Power supplies [for Jersey] have not been affected – power continues to be supplied by Jersey Electricity.’
The Island receives around 95% of its electricity through three undersea cables linking the Island to the French grid. Much of the remainder comes from the energy recovery facility.
