The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday said that three new transformers were vandalized on Monday and through “diligent intelligence” 10 others were found at a Middle Road, La Penitence scrap dealer yesterday and this resulted in several arrests.
In a press release the company said it continues to be alarmed at the theft of its T&D equipment and in the past month it has noted that three transformers in the Kingston area that served the Government Food and Drug/Analyst Department were illegally de-energised and vandalized. The company said only bits of metal remained of the transformers as thieves had carted off the shell, core and windings.
GPL said too that on Monday it discovered that three new transformers at the Sophia Complex two 167 KVA and one 150 KVA were completely vandalised. All the copper parts from these transformers were removed and three other transformers at Sophia had also been tampered with, though no parts were removed.
GPL said these blatant acts of theft are supporting an industry that seems to thrive on buying stolen property. It noted that these acts have been repeatedly denounced by certain sections of the business community and scrap metal dealers who continue to ply this trade by purchasing stolen equipment should be prosecuted by law. The company also said these incidents are occurring at a time when the government has renewed the granting of permission for the export of ferrous scrap metals. GPL said when the halt was called to such exports mid last year it saw “an unprecedented end to vandalism” of its property.
GPL said the theft of its equipment must be stopped. It urges citizens to be cognisant of the negative impacts such vandalism would have on the already fragile electricity sector.
The company said currently it takes as long as 60 weeks to receive replacement transformers from manufacturers. It said too the “costs for replacing these transformers are astronomical, and continue to place a heavy burden on the company’s finances.”
GPL urges citizens who may have any information about “these criminal acts” to make a report on telephone numbers 225-5251 or 225-7925. The company said it treats information provided with the strictest confidentiality.