ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Nalcor Energy says it’ll be another six months before issues with synchronous condensers at Soldier’s Pond are resolved.
The crown corporation issued a brief update on progress at Soldiers Pond, the Labrador-Island Link (LIL), and generators at Muskrat Falls.
Nalcor says issues with the synchronous condensers — large rotating machinery that stabilize the electric system — will not be resolved until June. Nalcor had detected issues with the machinery in December and had hoped to get two of the condensers online by March and a third in May. Now, all three have been delayed until June.
General Electric continues to work on software issues dogging the LIL project, stating progress on the software “is slower than they planned.” Instead of a specific time, Nalcor now says the software will be delivered some time this year.
Meanwhile, Nalcor says testing of the unit one generator at the Muskrat Falls powerhouse is now underway, though some leakage has appeared in the dam. Nalcor says such leakage is “normal.” The unit one turbine has been rotated for the first time.
Opposition members aren’t happy about the update.
In a release, Tory natural resources critic David Brazil says the delays call into question the timeline for the Muskrat Falls project as a whole.
“Both issues may have serious consequences for the cost and timeline of the project,” wrote Brazil, in a release.
“But the government is not telling people what impact these issues will have on first power, full power, or the ability to export power to the North American grid.”
Brazil says it’s time for Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady to give an update on the problems with the project.
"The issues with the synchronous condensers are in addition to the longstanding issue with the Labrador-Island Link software,” wrote Brazil.
“It’s time for the Minister to provide a full update on both issues, the fixes and the impacts.”
Twitter: @DavidMaherNL
