Isolated Power Plant In

New Caledonia

The world’s most isolated power plant is at the mines of the Mutual Chemical Company in New Caledonia, a French Island 750 miles off the coast of Queens land and 1,000 miles from Sydney. To aid in the mining of chrome ore, the company has put in a battery of Diesel engines and air compressors.

An idea of the isolation of this plant may be gained from the fact that a major breakdown would require sending 12,000 miles for a spare part and operation would be hindered, or possibly halted for from six to nine months. Even a comparatively minor breakdown, requiring sending to Sydney for a spare part, would delay operations for from three to six weeks.

To insure against interruption in the operation of the plant, great attention is paid to the lubrication of the machinery.

All the equipment is lubricated by products of the Vacuum Oil Company and, accord ing to methods worked out by their en gineers. In power plants all over the world increased attention is being paid to the matter of correct lubrication as the best insurance against costly breakdowns.