Marshalls' main island facing weeks of power rationing

2:07 pm on 24 October 2018

The people of Majuro in the Marshall Islands, who have endured power rationing over the past two weeks, may have to cope with the problem for another month.

Majuro, Marshall Islands.

Majuro, Marshall Islands. Photo: Giff Johnson

Power rationing went into effect on 12 October, when one of only four working generators in the island's power plant had to be shut down after its alternator caught fire.

Rolling blackouts quickly became a daily experience as the three working engines couldn't meet the daily demand of nine megawatts.

Majuro is normally served by five generators but one of the machines has been undergoing extended maintenance that is expected to take another two months.

The rationing, mostly faced by residences in the east and west of the atoll, are usually during weekday afternoons and evenings when power usage typically rises.