Page 252 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (III)_Neat

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Mechanical and Electrical Workshops.—Provision of these essential facilities on a short
term policy was made during the year, the building alterations being carried out jointly by private
contract and the P.W.D. Only a limited quantity of hand tools and associated equipment were
available from local sources but a considerable amount of repair work, which hitherto would have
had to be done in local native workshops has been undertaken. In the Electrical Workshop, the
work has chiefly consisted of the repair and servicing of fans from the Government Hospital and other
buildings, also A.C. units, refrigerators, electric motor driven water pumps, telephones, etc. In the
mechanical workshop, such work as the overhaul and repair of generating plant auxiliaries, M.T.
engines and components and the manufacture of a drip feed oil filtration plant has been carried out.
Two other urgently required items for the Power House extension were also made available as a
result of the provision of workshop facilities. These consisted of the manufacture of three roof trusses
and the erection of the steel work tramway and columns for the five-ton overhead Gantry extension.
The provision of complete workshop facilities and the requisite machine tools for both metal and
woodworking, also electric welding, blacksmithing, copper and sheet metal working, etc. has been
arranged. The necessary site of an approximate area of 850 square yards adjacent to the Power
House was purchased by the Government from private owners during the year. Supply of the equip­
ment has already commenced and the new workshop building, stores, etc., are in course of construc­
tion. When the complete workshop facilities become available the Department will be self-supporting
for all electrical and mechanical repairs, etc., and the quantity and quality of such work undertaken
will be enhanced by means of the use of proper and efficient machine tools and equipment. The
cost will unquestionably be quickly off-set by the saving of excessive repair costs and delay in com­
pletion of repairs, and the resultant improved standard of maintenance of all machinery and Electrical
and Mechanical Equipment will increase its efficiency.

Building Extensions.—The following have been completed by the State Engineer's Depart­
ment :—
An additional Flour Mill building for the Food Controller on the Power Station site.
An Oil Filtration Plant building to house new equipment for this purpose from England and
also additional equipment for a similar purpose manufactured in the Department.
Work in hand but not yet completed consists of 7 garages for Government vehicles and two
living quarters for staff. Other work planned but not yet commenced consists of new Workshops
and Stores for the State Engineer’s Department, additional staff quarters and building for a water
distillation plant on order.

PROSPECTS FOR 1365.
New Flour MilL—One additional electricity driven mill and sieving machine will be erected
upon receipt from India. The necessary building has been provided to accommodate this mill and
an additional one at a later date if it becomes necessary.
Water Distillation Plant.—An order has been placed in England for the supply of a water
distillation plant of 10 tons per 24 hours capacity, and delivery is expected towards the end of the
year 1365. The necessity for this plant is urgent, and the efficient operation of the Diesel Engine
driven electricity generating plant is entirely dependent upon the use of distilled water for cooling.
This applies more particularly to the new plant being installed and on order. Owing to refinements
in design and higher operating speeds, the modem types of engines require to be run at specific and
constant temperatures. For this reason the water cooling spaces must be protected from scale
formation which causes a restriction and results in abnormal temperatures. This often results in
severe breakdowns. The artesian well water which is available in Bahrain is entirely unsuitable for
use as coolant owing to its content of 2,223 parts of Sodium Chloride and a total hardness approxi­
mating 1,000 parts per million. The water distillation plant will provide the requirements of distilled
water for the Government Hospital and other Government premises, residences, mechanical transport,
etc. in addition to the Generating Plant requirements. It is intended to instal the plant close to the
Power House and steps have already been taken to acquire an additional plot of land of an approxi­
mate area of 650 square yards for this purpose.

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