Surprised at Fuluasou hydro plant

Dear Editor,

Re: Hydro Plant at Fuluasou 

I am surprised to see the rebuilding of Fuluasou Hydro. 

My question is why was the original plant shut down in the first place?

I believe the plant was installed in 1936 and the other cross Flow Turbine in 1981 adding another 550kw. 

Early 2004 I was contacted by Mr. Greenland, that he purchased the plant for $4,000.00 and he needed some advice of the condition and how to recycle certain materials including the Pelton Wheel Turbine. 

Most parts of the generator and the turbine were in excellent condition, and most of the surrounding, like instrument panels and cables were vandalized with sharp instruments, some items were stolen from the site. 

We mega tested the generator winding and they were all ok. The pipeline manifolds etc were missing. The state of the plant looked like a battlefield. 

It was a sad sight. 

I was involved with a similar plant in PNG at Bulolo place called wedderbosch operated by commonwealth NG. Timber and Gold – the identical plant was installed by Placer Canada in 1932 and it is still running today providing power to the timber mill shop sticks, plywood, veneer factories township etc. 

As a matter of interest many parts are still available. These plants were built to last. All it needed was Maintenance. 

As a reminder of Fuluasou Hydro – are concrete flowerpots made from the Flow Reducer from the Turbine are displayed in front of the Development Bank and the new alley. 

 

Josef Baukes

Ululoloa   

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