Since a fire at the microgrid power plant in Ofu, Manu’a, in June 2019, the islands of Ofu and Olosega have been completely dependent on diesel energy for power.
The plant was to supply a combination of solar and diesel power for the islands, but the fire destroyed the solar battery storage for the plant. Four years later, the solar power battery storage has not been repaired.
When it was opened in May 2017, the plant was to generate 80 percent of the power needs of the islands of Ofu and Olosega, Manu’a, by a microgrid, combining a photovoltaic array, battery storage and diesel power.
At a House hearing with officials of the American Samoa Power Authority (ASPA) yesterday, Manu’a District #2 lawmaker Tiaoalii Sai was eager to find out if ASPA has made any progress in repairing the Ofu plant.
Executive Director of ASPA Wallon Young reported that ASPA finally settled its insurance claim of $1.3 million in December of last year, and the authority is now working on specifications to bid out the repair work for the solar battery storage.
Young said, the scope of work has to be adjusted.
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