WILLEMSTAD - The business sector lost several millions during the days when there was a power outage in Curaçao.
This is the provisional conclusion of the Chamber of Commerce. Meanwhile, Aqualectra declares that the situation is still precarious, and that the security system is causing the problems. This was the reason for the two major power outages, of which Friday's lasted more than 26 hours. All in all, Curaçao has had no power for more than 40 hours in one week, on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
The first blackout, according to Aqualectra, was due to Covid-19. Several employees are sick or in quarantine, which makes maintenance more difficult.
Neysa Isenia, Aqualectra's financial director explains: “Aqualectra produces 66 kilovolts of electricity. When it enters a home, it is 12 kilovolts. On the grid, the power is transformed from 66 kilovolts to 30 kilovolts - there are large customers who purchase more than 30 kilovolts - and then the voltage is further reduced to 12 kilovolts. While the power was being produced, it went into the grid, with voltages far in excess of 66. The machine is then told to run faster. In turn, the security system kicks in and shuts down the machines to prevent them from running too hard and breaking down.”
According to Neysa, this is the common thread of the problem. Aqualectra does not know why the voltage behaves like this and causes the blackout. To determine this, both Aqualectra and the government have started an independent investigation.
Minister Steven Martina, in charge of Aqualectra, said at a press conference on Monday that he has ordered Aqualectra to structurally compensate for damage. He also thinks that better information should be given to the public.
The business owners who have been disadvantaged these days because of the blackout, however, cannot expect much. The compensation is mainly for devices that have broken. According to Billy Jonckheer, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, the three days of the blackout were "very dramatic".
“We do not agree with a monopoly such as Aqualectra. We believe in an open market. But it is also difficult to find competitors in such a small market who will make the massive investments to provide the community with electricity. What needs to be done is to get as much alternative energy as possible, including solar panels and wind energy.”
Ex-chairman of Aqualectra Ruben Suriel who is also a member of Fundashon Akshon Sivil (civil action foundation) which conducted a survey on Aqualectra, has no confidence in an independent investigation from Aqualectra. "Nothing has changed. It was very difficult to structurally change certain matters in the board and supervisory board. People all wore double hats. Minister Martina himself had so many ties that there can be no question of an independent investigation.”
