More than 30 businesses submit Expressions of Interest to supply GPL power
– Coalition left a $13Billion tab for unpaid electricity bills
Businesses within the private sector have heeded the Government’s call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) to supply the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) with 30 megawatts of electricity.
At the close of Friday’s 2pm deadline, more than 30 businesses with the capacity to supplement GPL’s grid have submitted their respective EOIs to the power utility company.
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon. Deodat Indar told the Department of Public information (DPI) that the Government’s aim is to, “put some reserve into the system to deal with this demand [for electricity].”
In an effort to arrest the electricity shortfall, the Public Works Minister said businesses were approached to ascertain their capabilities to bolster GPL. The Minister noted both he and the Prime Minister have had fruitful talks with Giftland to supply approximately 5 megawatts to the electricity company.
UNPAID BILLS
Meanwhile, Minister Indar bemoaned the poor financial state of GPL that was left behind by the former administration.
“A lot of the Government agencies that take electricity from GPL was not paying to the tune of around $13Billion,” the Minister explained.
According to Minister Indar, this issue compounds with the lack of investment into the enhancement of GPL’s generating capacity over the past five years. It was noted that the miniscule attention paid to GPL under the former Coalition government, only served to worsen the state of the company, namely the lack of reserve electricity which has led to numerous power outages.
Minimum requirements set by GPL for interested businesses to supplement its grid were for bidders to demonstrate the ability to deliver a complete project within two (2) months of an agreement and demonstrate access to competent personnel with operation and maintenance experience at a minimum of one facility of similar size. Additionally, bidders were asked to prove legal status via certified copies of company registration certificates/documents, copies of audited financial reports for the last three years (balance sheets, income and expenditure statements, auditors’ reports, etc.)