The Esmeraldas I Thermal Power Plant has started a scheduled preventive maintenance process that will last 15 days, beginning March 5, according to an announcement from the Corporación Eléctrica del Ecuador (CELEC). The plant contributes 125 megawatts (MW) to Ecuador’s national electric system and is undergoing work that cannot be completed while it is in normal operation.
This facility, which has been operating for 43 years, undergoes two maintenance periods each year. The first occurs in the first quarter and lasts for 15 days, while the second takes place in the third quarter and extends for 45 days.
During this initial maintenance period, activities include cleaning and fixing leaks in the boiler—where steam is generated by heating demineralized water with fuel combustion. Repairs will also be made to fans in the cooling tower, which remove heat from water; maintenance on the regenerative air heater, where air used for combustion is warmed by exhaust gases; and servicing of auxiliary equipment.
The technical work at Esmeraldas I is coordinated with CENACE, Ecuador’s National Electricity Operator. This organization ensures that energy usually supplied by Esmeraldas I will be covered by other power plants such as Manduriacu and those within the Toachi Pilatón Hydroelectric Complex during the outage period.
Maintenance operations are scheduled daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., involving a team of 110 technicians from CELEC’s Termoesmeraldas Business Unit.
“The Government of El Nuevo Ecuador, through CELEC EP, guarantees reliable and secure electricity service availability for Ecuadorians by fulfilling generation unit maintenance plans,” according to CELEC EP.
