Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASMARA177
2009-06-12 06:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
ERITREA POWER GRID RUNNING ON "LUCK"
how-toVZCZCXRO7254 RR RUEHGI RUEHMA RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0177 1630608 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120608Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0312 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUCNFUR/DARFUR COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
UNCLAS ASMARA 000177
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E and EEB/CIP/BA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG PGOV ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA POWER GRID RUNNING ON "LUCK"
REF: ASMARA 065
UNCLAS ASMARA 000177
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E and EEB/CIP/BA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG PGOV ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA POWER GRID RUNNING ON "LUCK"
REF: ASMARA 065
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Eritrea's main generators, located in Massawa, are
one overhaul away from a country-wide power failure, according to
representatives from Eritrea's fuel industry. The four generators
are currently operating beyond recommended capacity, doing the work
of six generators. Critical overhaul would cost the GSE $100
million and would require disruptive shutdowns. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Ordinarily, an electrical grid would have six generators,
running four at a time and alternating every few months to the two
spare generators. The process allows for regular repairs and keeps
the generators from being overworked. However, Massawa's four
generators run constantly and are often temporarily shut down for
minor repairs. This is the situation that likely happened June 5-9
when Asmara experienced lengthy power outages. Although the
Ministry of Energy referred to the problem as "some minor technical
issues in Massawa," insiders to Eritrea's energy situation speculate
the overworked generators were once again shut down for maintenance
and repairs. The Ministry of Energy maintains that Eritrea has the
technical expertise in-country to repair the generators. While this
may be true, mused one energy expert, the country has neither the
expertise nor the foreign capital to overhaul the generators, which
is recommended every five years; the generators have not been
overhauled since installation in the late 90s. Additionally,
shutting the generators on and off as repairs are needed rather than
taking the time for a full system overhaul inevitably shortens the
life of the generators. At this point, he continued, the generators
are running on "luck."
3. (SBU) In the past, the GSE has avoided country-wide power
failures through just-in-time deliveries of fuel and lubricant
(reftel). One energy analyst asserted the GSE still had a nine
months supply of lubricant and at least 40 days of fuel to run the
generators. The problem now, however, is possible equipment
failure. The generator in the border city of Tessenei failed three
weeks ago due to worn out pistons. Rather than replacing the
pistons, which would cost the GSE hard currency, the GSE simply
switched to a low-viscosity lubricant. Overhauling the four main
generators in Massawa would cost approximately $25 million per
generator and would cause disruptive shutdowns and outages.
TABLER-STONE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
DEPT FOR AF/E and EEB/CIP/BA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG PGOV ER
SUBJECT: ERITREA POWER GRID RUNNING ON "LUCK"
REF: ASMARA 065
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Eritrea's main generators, located in Massawa, are
one overhaul away from a country-wide power failure, according to
representatives from Eritrea's fuel industry. The four generators
are currently operating beyond recommended capacity, doing the work
of six generators. Critical overhaul would cost the GSE $100
million and would require disruptive shutdowns. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Ordinarily, an electrical grid would have six generators,
running four at a time and alternating every few months to the two
spare generators. The process allows for regular repairs and keeps
the generators from being overworked. However, Massawa's four
generators run constantly and are often temporarily shut down for
minor repairs. This is the situation that likely happened June 5-9
when Asmara experienced lengthy power outages. Although the
Ministry of Energy referred to the problem as "some minor technical
issues in Massawa," insiders to Eritrea's energy situation speculate
the overworked generators were once again shut down for maintenance
and repairs. The Ministry of Energy maintains that Eritrea has the
technical expertise in-country to repair the generators. While this
may be true, mused one energy expert, the country has neither the
expertise nor the foreign capital to overhaul the generators, which
is recommended every five years; the generators have not been
overhauled since installation in the late 90s. Additionally,
shutting the generators on and off as repairs are needed rather than
taking the time for a full system overhaul inevitably shortens the
life of the generators. At this point, he continued, the generators
are running on "luck."
3. (SBU) In the past, the GSE has avoided country-wide power
failures through just-in-time deliveries of fuel and lubricant
(reftel). One energy analyst asserted the GSE still had a nine
months supply of lubricant and at least 40 days of fuel to run the
generators. The problem now, however, is possible equipment
failure. The generator in the border city of Tessenei failed three
weeks ago due to worn out pistons. Rather than replacing the
pistons, which would cost the GSE hard currency, the GSE simply
switched to a low-viscosity lubricant. Overhauling the four main
generators in Massawa would cost approximately $25 million per
generator and would cause disruptive shutdowns and outages.
TABLER-STONE