incinerator just a year after it opened for business.

The plant is supposed to be self-sufficient in power, supplying electricity from turbines to the plant as well as the public grid.

But since the incinerator came on line, the electricity turbine has been dogged by problems. It was officially opened last October, but a month later Government announced there was a problem with it.

Last April it was not working properly and engineers from the contractors, who were meant to leave at the end of 1994, were still on the Island.

Yesterday, the Minister for Works and Engineering, the Hon. Leonard Gibbons, admitted there was again a problem and the turbine was not producing electricity and had not been "for some period of time''.

It was hoped some of the costs of the massive project could have been re-couped by selling electricity to the Bermuda Electric Light Company, but it has received no electricity since May 30.

"We have had problems with the turbine condenser and the contractor is working to do an interim repair to allow the turbine to come on line in August,'' Mr. Gibbons said.

"Permanent repairs will not be effected until the end of the year.'' Mr. Gibbons said the Department was negotiating with the contractors. He said the company which built the plant, Von Roll Ltd, from Switzerland, was addressing the issue, but one problem was the length of time it took to get spare parts to Bermuda.

"The condenser tubes are leaking. As a result we have not accepted the complete plant from the contractors yet,'' he added. "It has produced electricity but there is this ongoing problem which we are dealing with.'' Last April, Mr. Gibbons was also quoted as saying the contractors were having problems with tubes at the plant, although neither that nor the current problem is affecting rubbish burning.

Mr. Gibbons added: "I would anticipate from what I have been told that we should be generating electricity again later this year.''