Residents on Jost Van Dyke are likely to experience a better quality of electricity service after the sister island was successfully reconnected to the BVI Electricity Corporation’s (BVIEC) main grid on Friday.
The Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Kye Rymer, made the announcement, noting that the restoration of electricity comes after dedicated efforts were made over several months, overcoming challenges posed by previous disruptions.
It was in September 2023 that the sub-sea cable leading to the island became compromised, resulting in the BVIEC using alternative methods to power the sister island. Through the use of a generator, residents regained access to power, but at the cost of experiencing frequent power outages due to required maintenance.
Following the restoration, Minister Rymer expressed his satisfaction as he revealed that the residents of Jost Van Dyke were finally back on the grid. He credited the favourable weather and calm waters, which allowed divers to make substantial progress in the restoration efforts.
Dr. Neil Smith, the General Manager for BVIEC, provided insights into the technical aspects of the restoration process.
He said, “We made one of the required joints in the subsea cable on Thursday, February 15, and a joint on the land side to connect the cable to the grid.”
“We then commenced the necessary testing and energised the cable. We really wanted to restore the sister island onto the grid today, Friday, February 16, and I am grateful to the dedication of the team at BVIEC seeing this through,” he added.Dr. Smith highlighted the corporation’s dedication to fostering partnerships and safely developing the Virgin Islands while providing sustainable, innovative energy solutions at an affordable cost and reiterated the BVIEC’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.