On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, a fire broke out in RECIP engine #7 at the WEB power plant. There were no injuries and the electricity production situation is currently under control, but still delicate. The fire was caused by a malfunction of a high-pressure fuel pump in one of the engine cylinders, which leaked fuel.
The WEB staff on duty detected the fire and immediately sounded the alarm. WET, the WEB emergency team, promptly responded for initial assistance. At the same time, the Fire Department was called and arrived at the scene in no time.
The fire was difficult to prevent because it was a sudden malfunction of the high-pressure fuel pump, which had been replaced a few days earlier with a new factory pump. A team from the manufacturer Wärtsilä has been requested to assess the damage and develop a recovery plan. RECIP #7 engine is currently out of service, and it is estimated that it will take approximately 6 months to be back in operation.
The current electricity supply is already delicate due to the significant increase in demand for electricity over the past year. Additionally, it is entering the hot season and peak electricity usage period, making the situation potentially critical. The WEB Aruba team is making every effort to manage electricity production and supply as efficiently as possible to meet the community’s demand for electricity.
WEB management extends a big word of gratitude to all employees who made their utmost effort to handle the fire quickly. Also, a word of thanks goes to the Aruba Fire Department.
