The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) will no longer be responsible for the maintenance of its generators and is currently in the process of transferring them to Power Producers and Distribution Inc. (PPDI).
The announcement was made yesterday through a Department of Public Information (DPI) report which said GPL has already requested a proposal from the PPDI for the maintenance of several of their out-of-town generating sets.
Stabroek News contacted General Manager of the PPDI, Arron Fraser who confirmed that they have been in constant discussion with the power company over the transitioning of the maintenance of their generators.
“I can confirm that we are in a state of readiness to operate and maintain and we have the capabilities,” he said, while stating that at this point they are unsure of whether they will need additional staff and systems in place to support the additional generators.
He also said that he would be unable to give a timeframe for when the transition will be completed.
The DPI report added that Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson said that with the PPDI on board there will be an improved maintenance schedule that will prevent any failures, similar to what happened to the generating sets at GPL’s Anna Regina, Essequibo branch that recently plunged the region into persistent power problems.
The Anna Regina branch is also expected to be the first site in the country that will utilise heavy fuel oil, which is more economical for operations.
“I endorsed that because the maintenance culture of PPDI is rigid and better than Wartsila. It is anticipated that, with the transition, what happened with the (GPL) sets at Anna Regina, three months ago, will not reoccur,” the report quoted Patterson as saying.
Last year, PPDI took over the management of non-GPL generators which had been previously run by the Finnish company Wartsila.
DPI also noted that PPDI will start
maintenance works at the new Anna Regina power station when its construction is completed in December, after which the team will move to other stations around the country inclusive of the new Bartica Power station, when completed.
Patterson also said that PPDI has the requisite training and resources to assume the maintenance of GPL’s generators, which will allow the power company to concentrate on ensuring that the distribution network is up and running, as opposed to “stretching its resources to keep the generators up and running.”
“I want to assure the residents of Essequibo that we’re working as fast as we can to improve the quality of service they receive. I know they have heard this before, but they also have to help us by monitoring the situation as well and report any activity at the substation, on the distribution lines that looks incorrect or improper because at the end of the day it’s their welfare we’re looking after,” the report quoted Patterson as stating.
It is unclear whether PPDI’s taking over of maintenance will result in job losses at GPL.
