The Electrical Power Corporation (E.P.C.) has rubbished reports the maintenance for the Fiaga Power Plant is not up to standard and that is the cause of the power outages. 

C.E.O. Tologata Tile Tuimaleaaliifano said the manufacturer (Mitsubishi Heavy Industry) is in charge of the maintenance work and they have a local agent, Transwork Limited, who is just the contact office. 

“The engineers are sent from Japan to do the major service of the generators,” said Tologata.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, the C.E.O. explained that E.P.C. oversees the maintenance being conducted by the M.H.I.

The M.H.I. local agent, Transwork Company Limited and they are point of contact in the country. 

Trasnwork is owned by Siaumau Mua, the wife of Cabinet Minister, Lopao’o Natanielu Mua and their children. 

The C.E.O. rejected claims the outages are from the Fiaga power plant. 

“If anything the Fiaga power plant feeds power to all of Samoa if need be and that is evidence that maintenance is up to standard and done regularly,” said Tologata. 

Regarding the maintenance services, the C.E.O. said there are different types of maintenance services. 

“The E.P.C. actually does the minor services such as replacing filters. And aside from the daily service, there is also weekly, biweekly, monthly and annual service maintenance. 

“And there’s the major service conducted every 18,000 hours and that service is done by the manufacturer. They send their engineers to work with Transwork, while E.P.C. oversees the service. 

“We anticipate doing that major service after the Pacific Games and this means, we strip the generator down to its core, clean and replace the parts worn out,” explained Tologata. 

He said the tender board has already approved the funds for the spare parts for the major service. 

Regarding the local agent, the C.E.O. said they are trying to deal directly with the manufacturer. 

 “We have been trying to go directly to the manufacturer but we can’t. The company has changed their structure and has contracted Transwork as their local agent. “We tried to go directly to the M.H.I. and cut off the local agent, but the manufacturer won’t allow that approach. 

“The local contractor does not do the maintenance; when it’s time for regular service the manufacturer sends their engineers from Japan to conduct the inspection and maintenance. 

“And Transwork does not have the ability to conduct maintenance work for the generators,” said Tologata. 

The Samoa Observer left messages and visited the Transwork office in Falelauniu, however Siaumau Mua referred all the questions to her son “Masoe”. To date the Samoa Observer has not received any responses to the emails and messages left for Masoe. 

“I will not comment on anything, regardless what it is but I’ll give your number and message to my son, Masoe he will be the one to talk to you; but for the time being he’s in a meeting,” said Siaumau at their office. 

Tologata told the Samoa Observer there is a “joint venture” between the M.H.I. and Transwork. 

“And the E.P.C.’s signed contract is with M.H.I. not Transwork, but they are the local agent. 

Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang said the manufacturer conducts the maintenance. 

“And if there are any reports and confirmation the maintenance service is not done on time, that means we can cancel the contract,” said the Minister.