Electricity supply on the island of Tobago should be regularised by this weekend, according to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission.
Corporate communications manager at T&TEC, Stephen Martel said on Wednesday Tobago’s electricity supply depended on two submarine cables which are connected to Trinidad, one of which is damaged.
’The number two cable that is damaged is bigger than the number one cable, and as a result there would be load shedding in areas across Tobago, since there is not enough electricity power to supply the island at peak hours. A contingency plan has been worked upon and some relief is forthcoming,’ he said.
Martel said the Marine Division has been notified and it is suspected that the cable might have been damaged due to an anchor, but checks are still being made at this time.
National Petroleum has been supplying Tobago with extra diesel to supply those homeowners and businesses which are now relying on generators.
Martel said submarine cable number one was in operation and the power plant at Scarborough is operating at full capacity.
Many Tobagonians are upset over the situation which has affected some businesses. One businesswoman, Wendy Benjamin Jordan, of Patience Hill, who owns a flower shop, is not at all happy with the load shedding of the electricity supply.
’I am very unhappy over the situation, and hope the Electricity Commission can fix the matter soon. I have been losing business and my customers are not happy,’ she said.
In addition, Benjamin is worried that her appliances would be affected. Meanwhile 58-year-old Rawle Baker, of Bethany, said he has accepted the load shedding situation, and hopes the matter would be resolved soon.
The incident occurred on September 17 around 9 p.m. When the entire island was plunged into darkness, it was later discovered that the number two submarine cable feeding electricity to Tobago was damaged, 15 kilometres from Toco.
The Commission has advised consumers to conserve the use of electricity during this time.
A technical team from Trinidad will be visiting Tobago on the weekend to assess the situation.
-Elizabeth W Allard
