The technical-forensic audit made to the Thermoelectric Power Plant Catalina Point (CTPC) highlights that, almost three years after the official inauguration of said plant, its approval has not yet been issued. final acceptance by the Dominican authorities.
The survey, carried out by the firm Sargent & LundyLLC (S&L), and published this week by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, indicates that Unit One came into operation in December 2019 and Unit Two in April 2020.
In addition, the one successfully completed the contractual warranty performance test in September 2019, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was only possible to perform one preliminary test of performance in the Unit two.
In the study, carried out between November 2021 and October 2022, it is detailed that the official performance and emissions tests of the Unit two they were never carried out.
The EPC Contractor stated that the pandemic affected the ability to perform the activities in the field necessary to carry out the tests.
Explain that for the Unit twothe only information available on performance and emissions testing comes from a pre-test report by a third-party contractor.
This test was conducted in preparation for performing the formal performance test runs and was therefore generally in accordance with the test procedure. performance test.
Lack of evidence
According to the audit, there were some notable deviations from the test procedure and the contract requirements. Among these was that only one three-hour test run was carried out instead of three four-hour ones.
- The testing contractor notes in these reports other deviations that affect performance and emissions results. The Unit Two pre-test report also does not address minimum load or noise testing.
- The lime consumption of the facility is also not corrected and it is noted that an agreement is needed between the parties on how to correct said consumption to burn coal out of specification.
The CTPC is made up of two units of electricity generation of 337 net kW each, for a total of 675 net MW. In 2022, it supplied the 23.35% of the demand of the National Intercounted Electric System.
Each unit is configured with its own pulverized coal boileran emissions control system, a generator coupled to a steam turbine, process control and monitoring systems, and all auxiliary plant equipment required for the operation of these generation units.
In the audit the design processes, reception of materials and equipment, the stage of constructiontesting and commissioning of the thermoelectric complex.
