The full commissioning of Guam's new Ukudu Power Plant is now expected to be delayed by up to a month following a mechanical issue with one of its turbines, the Guam Power Authority (GPA) said Thursday.
GPA was notified by Guam Ukudu Power (GUP), the independent company contracted to operate the 198-megawatt facility, that testing will be pushed back after a steam turbine experienced high-pressure vibrations during startup on June 10. The affected rotor has been shipped to the manufacturer overseas for repair and is expected to return in late August, according to GPA.
Final testing and commissioning of the combined cycle unit is now scheduled to begin in mid-September, with full operations potentially postponed until the end of October. GPA had initially targeted a September 30 completion date.
GPA General Manager John M. Benavente expressed relief that the resulting potential delay of commissioning is not severe.
"The power plant was contracted in 2019 and is near full commissioning despite all the challenges we had from COVID-19, supply chain issues and damages that occurred from Typhoon Mawar," said Benavente. "We remain committed to delivering reliable and affordable energy, and we’re doing it with long-term performance in mind. While this is a short delay, it ensures the plant will operate at the highest standards.”
Officials said the problem stemmed from rubbing between the rotor and the high-pressure turbine shell, an issue not uncommon during power plant testing. GUP and its contractor, Doosan, are continuing to investigate the root cause.
In the meantime, GPA stated that three simple-cycle combustion turbine units at Ukudu, each capable of generating 45 megawatts, remain operational. While there are emissions permit restrictions for long-term use in this mode, the units can be used to help prevent load shedding during periods of high demand.
Despite the construction delay, GPA confirmed that the Levelized Energy Adjustment Clause reduction, approved earlier this year, will take effect as planned on August 1. The change is expected to save the average residential customer about $53 per month.
Once fully operational, the Ukudu Power Plant is expected to become the island's primary source of base load power, replacing older, less efficient generators.
GPA said it will continue to provide public updates as commissioning progresses.
