Page 309 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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STATE ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1955.

(By The State Engineer, Mr. D. Brammer, Assoc.I.E.E., A.M.Amcr.I.E.E.)

The Electricity Undertaking.
Generation Division. The old Power Station, (Manama ‘A’) continued to operate success­
fully throughout the year and no major troubles were experienced.

Manama *B\ the new Power Station, was brought into commission during April with two
1,000 KW Sets running on Diesel oil. The makers of these engines then continued the installa­
tion of two further sets which were designed to run on natural gas, the supply of which was made
available during January. By the end of June, Messrs. Nationals had not been successful in
their efforts to operate the engines on Gas and all four sets were operated throughout the
Summer months on Diesel oil. In October, Messrs. Nationals re-commenced their experiments
but, at the end of the year, had not been successful in producing an engine which would operate
satisfactorily on natural gas.

The total Units generated by both Power Stations amounted to 21,266,200, an increase
of nearly 20 per cent, on the previous year and the supply to the public was maintained without
any major interruption.

Distribution Division. During the year three new Sub-Stations were erected in Manama
and, to reinforce the supply to various areas, extensive cable laying was carried out in the
Prior Road, Tijjar Road, Barrett Road and Sh. Abdulla Road Districts. Much cable work
has also been carried out in Muharraq, where larger transformers were installed in several
existing Sub-Stations to cater for large increase in the demand for electricity. The total capacity
of the Sub-Stations is now 8750 KVA.

Ninety-seven new street lamps were erected in various districts, and 1,768 new consumers
were connected, bringing the total number of consumers to 7,832.

The 33 KV Tower lines to Rifaa and Budaiya were taken over from the Contractors in
May and the new 11 KV cable to Muharraq was put into commission during June, thus bringing
into use the new Sub-Stations in Muharraq Town and at the Airport.

A number of minor faults occurred during the year. The majority of which happened at the
beginning of the summer, due to overloading of transformers and feeder pillars and fuses.
In a number of cases, cables were damaged during excavations by other Authorities. These
caused short shut-downs in the Awal Road area, Manama, and Sea Road, Muharraq.

Meter and Consumers Division. During the year, 1,445 meters were repaired and tested,
1,857 were issued and 84 were removed from various premises due to reconstruction, etc. 45
consumers complained of excessive electricity consumption and their meters were tested in
situ. Only 12 were found to be inaccurate. 2,152 applications for new electricity supply and
78.4 for additional supplies were received, representing a total additional load of 5,321 KW of
which 1,965 KW was connected. The total number of new applicants awaiting connection at
the end of the year was 3,708, representing a potential load of 3,356 KW.

Two cases of tampering with supply meters were detected. Both meters were found with
terminal cover seals missing and shunt links disconnected. After investigation by the State
Police, both cases were abandoned for want of evidence. One case held pending from 1954
was concluded and a fine was imposed on the individual concerned.