It is important to emphasize the need for accuracy and integrity when reporting information.
The MEC Management and Board are committed to transparency and truth and strongly refute the misleading information presented in the abovementioned article. We would like to correct the record on all counts.
Firstly, the claim that the U.S. government approved over $17 million to fund a new power plant and fix the distribution system for MEC is inaccurate. This is factually incorrect. There is no evidence to support the approval of such funding because it simply did not occur. In fact, there is no record or documentation supporting such approval. We challenge the writer of the article to produce evidence of this supposed approval.
Secondly, it is important to clarify that the management and previous board of the MEC did not reject the services of the US Army Corps of Engineers. On the contrary, we actively sought their involvement and requested them to be part of the MEC technical team. However, they independently made the decision not to participate for reasons not disclosed to us. We continue to hold their expertise in high regard and respect, and the door is always open for future cooperation.
Furthermore, the decision to secure funding from the World Bank for the reconstruction of Power Station 1 was a carefully considered strategic move, dictated by the immediate funding availability and the urgency to achieve swift results. At the time, the financial support provided by the World Bank was not only the most accessible but also the sole donor funding committed, ensuring that the initiation of the design and construction for the new Power Station 1 could proceed without delay. Even now, tapping into World Bank resources remains the most pragmatic, expeditious, and efficient donor-funding approach to realize the construction of the new facility. This choice was made with thorough consideration and was not the result of rejecting alternative funding sources but rather of the practical and timely access to funding provided by the World Bank. Moreover, the commitment to utilize these grant funds was solidified in writing.
It is important to highlight that MEC Management and the previous Board actively encouraged and welcomed U.S. participation in the power plant upgrade. At no point did we avoid or reject their involvement. We believe in fostering strong partnerships and collaborations to ensure the provision of reliable power to the community. International cooperation is key to MEC’s operations and strategic goals.
Additionally, accusations suggesting that the decision to opt for World Bank funding was influenced by personal grievances—specifically, the claim that the MEC General Manager and a board member were removed from housing at the Kwajalein Army base—are without merit and completely unfounded. Decisions made by MEC are based solely on the strategic interests and well-being of the energy infrastructure and our community, not on the personal circumstances of any individual within the organization. Personal factors have no bearing on the decision-making processes at MEC, and it is misleading to link the choice of funding source with such events.
Lastly, instead of casting blame or unjustly defaming individuals, the newspaper should acknowledge and appreciate the dedicated efforts of the hardworking men at the power plant. Their tireless work, including working three straight shifts, deserves recognition and gratitude. The public may not fully realize the extreme challenges these workers face daily. The generators they maintain and operate have aged significantly over time. In fact, the newest generators at the MEC power plants have been in operation for more than 25 years! This has not only led to the inevitable wear and tear of the generators but has also rendered the task of sourcing parts for them increasingly difficult, as parts become obsolete and scarce in the market. Consequently, the generators can no longer deliver the power output they were once capable of, leaving us with reduced generation capacity to meet Majuro’s growing energy needs.
Despite the challenging conditions, through sheer dedication and skill, these men have kept the lights on in Majuro, working around the clock and applying their expertise to equipment and generators that are well past their prime. Their commitment to maintaining service, even while pushing the limits of older machinery, is nothing short of remarkable. Their enduring efforts have not only ensured continuity of power but have also averted the kind of service disruptions that would normally occur from operating very old generators. All of us in Majuro owe these individuals, and the many other men and women at MEC, a debt of gratitude for their unwavering service and commitment under less-than-ideal operational circumstances.
In conclusion, MEC strongly refutes the newspaper’s accusations of wrongdoing by MEC management and the previous board. These allegations are baseless, offensive, and lacking in evidence. Our response here aims to set the record straight and highlight the actual efforts and intentions of the MEC Management and the previous Board. Transparent dialogue and fact-based discussions are essential, and we hope this rebuttal provides clarity and dispels the misinformation spread by the article in question. The writer(s) of the Marshall Islands Journal needs to adhere to the principles of responsible journalism and stop making unfounded claims and allegations without proper verification.
MEC remains focused on its commitment to delivering reliable, sustainable, and cost-efficient electrical service and continuously seeks to enhance energy provision to the community despite the challenges encountered. As part of its comprehensive strategy to enhance power stability and service quality in Majuro, MEC is enacting numerous critical initiatives that encompass both short-term and long-term measures. Some of these initiatives are described below:
- Additional Backup Generators – MEC has secured the rental of 5 MW of additional backup generators to enhance the power supply in Majuro, especially during peak periods.
- New Primary Generators – Along with rebuilding Power Station 1, new primary generators, along with 2MW of Battery Energy Storage system, will be installed to not only reinforce our grid but also increase our output capacity to meet the rising energy demands of Majuro. These upgrades to our power facilities and equipment augment MEC’s infrastructure with advanced, resilient capabilities.
- Increased Renewable Energy – MEC acknowledges the importance of renewable energy for a sustainable future and is thus escalating efforts to integrate a more substantial renewable component into our energy mix. By harnessing renewable sources such as solar and wind, MEC aims to reduce its carbon footprint and provide a cleaner, more environmentally friendly service. Current projects are installing 4MW of Solar to the Majuro network with a further 8MW in the planning and funding stages for Majuro and Ebeye.
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) – The AMI system will enable MEC to remotely monitor the load on its feeders and transformers and provide advanced analytics on network conditions and better management of load, thereby reducing the instances of faults due to overloading.
- Digital Protection System for the Distribution Network – This system will identify network faults as soon as they occur, notify the MEC crew, and isolate the faulty section from the rest of the network, thereby preventing the cascading tripping of feeders and generators. This will prevent atoll-wide blackouts and significantly reduce the time for restoring the faulty section.
- New Substation at the Power Plant – The new substation will house the new switchgears that are needed for the protection of the new and existing generation capacity, including new step-up and isolating transformers. New feeders that are required to improve the reliability of the supply in the distribution network and provide for the security of the generating units will also be included.
- Integrated Resource and Resilience Plan (IRRP) – This can be referred to as MEC’s Power Masterplan. The Masterplan will investigate adequacy requirements of the generation system for the next ten to fifteen years, taking into account electricity demand growth and the MEC grid’s ability to integrate higher levels of renewable energy. The IRRP plan will identify specific projects and technologies that will improve the reliability and resilience of the network against faults and natural events such as floods, high-tides, erosion, and sea level rise.
- An additional $60 million in multi-donor funding is in the process of being secured for specific planned energy infrastructure projects for MEC’s networks, which will move the RMI closer to achieving the RMI Electricity Roadmap goals.
