GPL hosts refresher training for Bartica staff

The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has hosted a refresher training for its staff at the new Bartica Power Plant as part of efforts to improve service delivery and customer service in that community.

In an invited comment on Sunday, Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon Deodat Indar stated that 40 people, including workers from the Power Producers and Distributors Inc (PPDI) benefited from the two-day training which was aimed at improving the operations of the plant.

“It was mainly our technicians and controllers who were a part of it and this is aimed at getting our technical people up to scratch with the new equipment,” he said.

Minister Indar reiterated that the Ministry remains committed to ensuring there is reliable sources of energy throughout the country.

GPL Divisional Director of Operations, Mr. Bharrat Harjohn said the exercise is an example of the company’s continuous efforts to build capacity. He said it is important to have trained staff to resolve issues as they arise.

“We know for us to maintain these kinds of assets that is given to us, we have to train our staff. Our staff have to be up to date with the technology that is available out there, so that they can able to apply themselves and that will benefit all of us,” Mr. Harjohn said.

He added that the training exercises will be continuous to ensure the highest level of customer service is delivered.

“So, this is important for us to be serving our customers in a reliable way and to be able to have a continuous supply of energy. Reliability is one of our goals in this organisation.”

Representatives from Cummins in Suriname will continue to conduct on the job training over the next few days.

In addition to improving its customer service, GPL is also looking at incorporating several renewable energy projects into its system. The company’s System and Planning Senior Engineer, Mr. Dhanraj Bhachai said that “there are a number of other renewable energy projects planned from the solar side and also from the wind side.”

“The energy system will be a hybrid system comprising of electricity coming from wind, solar, hydro. In addition to that there is gas; gas is coming.”

The $680 million (US$3.4M) power plant was commissioned at Dogg Point, Agatash in Bartica, Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) in December 2019. The station replaced the old one with three new 1.1 megawatts generators.