The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has submitted an action plan to Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson to address its present generation shortfall.
Patterson, who appeared on the Department of Public Information (DPI)-produced One on One programme on Monday, said the utility company issued the proposal after a six-hour meeting on December 6th.
It was noted that the company proposes adding 47 megawatts of power and that it hopes to produce 28 megawatts by mid-2020 and the remainder by the end of that year. Patterson said he had engaged with the Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on GPL’s proposal and that it will be presented next week to the Cabinet for guidance.
Presently, the generation power at GPL stands at 142 megawatts, with peak demand pegged at 124.6 megawatts. This allows for a 17.4-megawatt reserve, which falls below the internationally required standard of 20 per cent of power generation.
Because of the low reserve capacity, power disruptions due to maintenance of generators may occur. Hence, the need to increase generational shortfall is critical.
As part of the long-term plans for GPL, Patterson committed to transitioning the company’s grid to be fully powered by natural gas. In off-grid areas, the government intends to continue power communities by renewable energy sources, DPI said.
