Mechanical failures at the Onverwagt and Canefield power stations have caused the more than two weeks of extensive power outages in Regions Five and Six but every effort is being made to return the situation to some amount of normalcy.
This assurance came from Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal yesterday at a televised press conference hosted at the studios of state owned National Communications Network (NCN).
The PM, in opening remarks, said the company has been “running things tight without elbow room” while trying its best to reduce the pressure of tariffs on consumers. He said last Saturday, he and several members of the company’s board and management had a first-hand view of the situation and had hoped to bring earlier relief to residents. However, this did not materialize.
Meanwhile, Dindyal explained that the company was forced to do major rebuilding work at a plant at Onverwagt, for which an essential part is expected in the country today and should be completely installed by Wednesday.
A crack on the engine block at the Canefield, he explained, had also contributed to the situation. According to him, there was a “temporary fix” to the situation as the crack has been welded. However, he said, in the long run the block would have to be replaced. Both Hinds and Dindyal said the situation was currently as bad as it would get since they have been managing the same situation since 2003.
Hinds noted that usually cast iron was not mended and it was uncertain how long the crack would remain welded, but said, “we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will go well.”
Dindyal pointed out that the demand for power from the two regions is 11 megawatts, 4.4 of which came from Skeldon. However, he said, the link uses up about two megawatts available for distribution . He said the company will work around the clock to rebuild capacity to provide power to all Berbice communities.
No water
He also acknowledged that the power situation had affected water supply to the communities, but noted the need for greater co-ordination so that the power outages would have minimal effect on the wells.
He explained that sometimes after power outages have come to an end, residents who own water pumps would engage them, making it difficult for other residents to get water.
He stressed that though water could be stored, but electricity could not, and so the co-ordination between the two utilities would be essential.
Dindyal said that in the longer term, the company planned to spend US$1.4 million at Canefield to increase its capacity to 10 megawatts. Further, he said, some US$1.9 million from government would be used to improve the power link from Skeldon, which would make more power available for distribution.
The move too from diesel-operated equipment is also expected to assist the company.
Asked about power outages in Demerara, he recalled that the company had invested much to provide adequate electricity during Carifesta. Soon, it will be faced with the increased demand for the Christmas season, against the background of an already extended peak over the same period last year. He said the company was in the process of conducting load shedding to help the system prepare for the increased demand.
