The Randolph Harley Power Plant in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
The V.I. Water and Power Authority confirmed that an incident involving the unplanned atmospheric venting of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) occurred on Tuesday at the Randolph Harley Power Plant during routine maintenance on the Wärtsilä Phase II units.
According to the authority, the venting took place through a designated and permitted system, and was part of a standard procedure associated with maintenance work on fuel lines. The system is located at a safe distance from personnel, with safeguards in place to mitigate risks and ensure minimal hazard during operations.
The temporary evacuation of the plant was initiated in accordance with WAPA’s standard safety protocols after security personnel observed a visible vapor plume in the venting area. Within 20 minutes, the site was cleared and reauthorized for reentry, according to WAPA officials.
The venting was described as momentary and involved what is believed to be an insignificant volume of LPG. It was safely controlled without incident, with no injuries reported, no risk to the public, and no disruption to electrical service for WAPA customers.
In its official statement, WAPA reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to operational safety and public trust.
