GPL rolls out new plan to reduce blackouts

─ upgrades slated for Garden of Eden and Vreed-en-Hoop sub-stations

─ GPL looking at long term plans for improving reliability of power supply

By Nateshia Isaacs

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, June 6, 2019

Describing the recent challenges which beset the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL Inc.) as a combination of unfortunate events, CEO of the company, Albert Gordon reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring that all affected citizens get supplied with reliable electricity as soon as feasible.

Recently, there has been damage caused to the submarine cable-link between GPL’s Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop stations. According to the CEO, this will take an estimated three-week period for adequate repairs to be done. The CEO declared that affected residents and businesses would experience load shedding to facilitate the upgrades.

To help combat this problem, a series of remedial works will ensue in the coming weeks, to provide a more permanent medium to long term fix for the challenges which have plagued Guyanese over the years.

GPL officials said they were working with the Maritime Administration (MARAD) to do geo-referencing of the cable to provide that information to mariners. It is the belief that a passing ship’s anchor may have damaged the cable while traversing the Demerara River.

CEO Gordon related to the media that there are discrepancies in the system that they are working assiduously to address, as part of their revetment strategy. “We’re looking to extend transmission lines and to create another loop in which this deficit can be addressed.”

Also, part of the plans to ease the power woes, of as much as eight-hour lengthy blackouts in Demerara and Berbice since the existing submarine cable was damaged Sunday last, is the resumption of a 7.8-megawatt generator by next Wednesday and repairs to the alternator of a 6.9-megawatt generator by mid-July.

To this effect, a $5Billion (US$25M) upgrade of transmission lines and sub-stations in Garden of Eden, Vreed-en-Hoop and for the new sub-station to be completed in Wales on the West Bank of Demerara. This new sub-station will provide an increased carrying capacity and megawatt extension which means that there will be more electricity to power homes and businesses.

The CEO reminded there is currently no backup system and as such, when one system fails, it carries with it all of the interconnected systems within the grid. GPL will be implementing systems soon to combat this problem. This will ensure the severe reduction of power outages experienced by Guyanese in the long run.

The onset of the June 2019 service interruptions is due to the unavailability of the submarine cable which links the Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop Stations which developed a suspected fault along sections located approximately 0.5KM offshore from the agency’s Kingston operations.

Additionally, two generating sets at their Kingston Power Plant are unavailable due to maintenance requirements.

In a recent release to the public, GPL noted that “Our company remains cognisant of the inconveniences associated with this load shedding exercise and will endeavour to minimise the duration. Additionally, we will continue to provide updates as they become available.”

Images: Mohinder Raj