GPL gets $2B to advance operation

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, November 29, 2017

The government continues to support the efforts of the Guyana Power and Light Incorporation (GPL) to improve the quality and efficiency of electricity distribution.

During his presentation of the 2018 budget in the National Assembly, on Monday, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan disclosed that $2 billion has been budgeted for GPL’s Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP) in 2018.

This will see both technical and non-technical loss reduction measures, including network investments, interventions to pursue the reduction of technical losses, such as replacement of conductors, relocation, and incorporation of transformers, distribution boxes and accessories, and upgrading customer interface, namely service line, meters, enclosures and related accessories, among others.

The PUUP programme which was approved in 2014 has three components aimed at strengthening GPL’s management capabilities, operational efficiency and infrastructure investments for loss reduction.

Additionally, the government will also be assessing the possibility of using natural gas as a more affordable and cleaner energy source until such time “as we are able to move to 100 percent renewable energy,” Minister Jordan said.

The utility company has already invited Expressions of Interest for the installation of a 50-megawatt capacity natural gas-fired plant.

GPL is a state-owned utility whose operations comprise generation, transmission, and distribution. With an installed nominal generating capacity of 148-MegaWatt (MW), and approximately 666-GigaWatt-hour (GWh) delivered annually. GPL supplies electricity to approximately 167,000 customers in coastal areas and serves primarily urban and suburban communities where more than 80 percent of the population resides.

 

By: Ranetta La Fleur

 

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