Ormat Technologies Inc. said May 15 that its 38-MW Puna Geothermal Venture I facility on Hawaii's Big Island appears physically unaffected by the active volcano that erupted May 3 but remains offline.
The company said it has taken all necessary steps to safeguard the plant and company personnel, including taking electricity generation offline, shutting down all of the geothermal wells, placing physical barriers around and protective coverings over the geothermal wells, and working with state emergency agencies to implement measures to secure the wells.
The eruption is still evolving, Ormat said in a news release, but the topographical paths of steepest descent for possible lava flows are around and away from the power plant. The company is coordinating with the facility's off-taker, Hawaii Electric Light Co. Inc., as well as local and state authorities to ensure the safety of the plant.
"Currently there is no physical damage to the Puna facilities above-ground, however, we will be able to assess the impact of the volcanic eruption on the Puna geothermal wells only after the situation stabilizes," Ormat CEO Isaac Angel said in a news release. "We expect to restore the Puna operations as soon as it is safe to do so."
Ormat owns a 63.25% interest in Puna Geothermal Venture GP, which owns and operates the power plant. Ormat's partner, an affiliate of Northleaf Capital Partners Ltd., owns the rest of the partnership stake.
Hawaii Electric Light is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc.
