The Guyana Power and Light Inc. said yesterday that it is currently relying heavily on a large fleet of high-speed Caterpillar generating sets and some old generating units to meet the evening peak while maintenance activities are being conducted.
“In this arrangement there is the inherent risk that generation capacity may be inadequate due to forced (breakdown) outages,”the GPL stated in a release.
Recognizing this reality, GPL has published a load shedding guide in the Guyana Chronicle.
The daily load shedding guide will be advertized on NCN (Radio and TV) and CNS Channel 6, the release stated.
GPL noted it had reported previously that the No. 3 Wartsila generator at Garden of Eden suffered a major mechanical failure on January 29.
Metallurgical analysis of some failed components is being done in a specialized facility to determine what would have precipitated the failure.
It is expected that the 5.5 MW Unit would be returned to service before December. In the meantime, GPL’s insurance claim is being processed.
Generation availability in Demerara is now impacted by the absence of this 5.5MW unit and the commencement of major maintenance at the new 20.7MW plant in Kingston.
The first 6.9MW unit was released for its major overhaul last Sunday evening for a period of 18 days.
Major overhaul of the other two units will be done successively after the first is completed, with each lasting approximately 18 days.
Consumers should be advised that the level of load shedding programmed is based on a demand forecast and if the demand happens to be less than the forecast then the level of load shedding will be reduced accordingly.
With fuel prices increasing daily and currently exceeding US$112 a barrel, on a weighted average basis, GPL said it must again call on consumers to conserve.
