Premier and Minister of Finance Dr. Natalio D. Wheatley has issued an apology to the residents of Anegada for their recent power struggles while outlining plans for a more stable energy future.
Speaking on Tola Radio VI earlier this week Wheatley expressed hope that the island’s electricity woes would become “a thing of the past” by early 2025. This optimism stems from the anticipated completion of the Anegada Hybrid Renewable Energy and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project.
Wheatley’s comments follow a recent extended power outage on Anegada that began on September 17, caused by a major malfunction at the island’s power station.
Power Restored to Anegada After Extended Outage
Power has been restored to Anegada after residents endured an extended outage that began on the evening of Tuesday, September 17, 2024. The outage, caused by a major malfunction at the island’s power station, also led to the closure of the Claudia Creque Educational Centre on Wednesday, September 18.
According to reports, the BVI Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) encountered difficulties with one of its generating sets late Tuesday afternoon, leading to the disruption. Initial efforts to repair the fault overnight were unsuccessful, and residents were informed early Wednesday that power restoration would take longer than expected.
With no electricity or water, the Claudia Creque Educational Centre had to suspend classes for the day.
By Wednesday evening, BVIEC dispatched a generator to Anegada in an effort to restore power. Updates shared through the company’s WhatsApp channel indicated that a team was working diligently to ensure electricity would be back online before the end of the day.
BVIEC highlighted assistance from local companies, including Star Shipping, Big Josh Trucking, and B&C Lifting, who played a crucial role in transporting and installing the generator on the island.
Hon. Vincent O. Wheatley, Minister for Health and Social Development and Ninth District Representative, was on-site to oversee the loading of the generator onto a barge bound for Anegada. The generator arrived on the island and was connected to the system later that evening.
At 9:56 p.m. on Wednesday, BVIEC informed customers that the generator was being connected to the system and power restoration was imminent. Just before 10:30 p.m., residents received the news they had been waiting for: electricity had been restored across the island.