Essequibians get reliable electricity supply

―5.4MW power plant at Anna Regina commissioned

― “Essequibo will not be left out; progress will come to Essequibo” – Min Patterson

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, April 27, 2019

Residents of Essequibo can now look forward to a continuous and reliable supply of electricity with the commissioning of the 5.4-MegaWatt (MW) Power Plant.

During his remarks at the opening of the new Anna Regina 5.4MW Power Plant, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo said that this is a revolution in the energy sector that will bring dramatic changes in the residents’ lives. He also noted that there is a backup system in place of another 5MW.

“GPL [Guyana Power and Light Incorporated] has delivered on a promise. We [the Government] have a vision for Guyana and that vision will never be and should never be allowed to be extinguished.”

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo addressing the gathering at the commissioning of the power plant.

– [In the photo, from left] Vice-chairperson of the Region 2 Regional Democratic Council, Juliet Coonjah, Project Coordinator of iLTEKNO, Koray Toykuyu, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Divisional Director of Projects of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.), Ryan Ross, Project Engineer of GPL, Hugh Peru.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo congratulates Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson after they unveil the plaque to commemorate the opening of the Anna Regina power Plant.

[In the photo, from left] Project Coordinator, Koray Toykuyu explaining the workings of the control to newly sworn-in Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo.

The newly commissioned 5.4-MegaWatt (MW) Power Plant at Anna Regina, Region 2.

The newly commissioned 5.4-MegaWatt (MW) Power Plant at Anna Regina, Region 2.

According to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, the commissioning of the power plant is one step further in the right direction to make Essequibo the gateway to Guyana’s future.

He reiterated that while “oil and gas will make us rich; we need to turn to our food security for a more lasting future, based on what we can produce.”

Emphasising further, he stated the that government is researching possibilities of bridging the Essequibo Coast with Goshen.

“With access to billions of acres of land, this will take Essequibo into the zone of industrial development. This is part of the vision that the government has for Essequibo.”

He also disclosed that the government will next be commissioning 1.5MW photovoltaic power station, also known as a solar park at Bartica and then another at Canefield.

“People of Essequibo will be better off, we have the capacity to do many things in this region, we are celebrating an integrated development here today,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo stated.

Sharing his view on the new development, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson said:

 “We have been running almost five months so as to work out all the kinks in the system. These engines are brand new sets with a life span of 20 years. Essequibo will not be left out; progress will come to Essequibo.”

The new Anna Regina Power Station is the first in the county to utilise heavy fuel oil which is more economical for operations. Project Engineer, Hugh Peru said “this new power plant, costing $1.81Billion, is unique in the sense that it is a containerised baseload facility. We’re accustomed to having a facility where all the engines are in one engine room, but with this one, we have three containerised units which are designed for baseload. The residents of Essequibo will definitely be experiencing improved power supply.”

Rebecca Ganesh.

Images: Keno George.