GUYANA Power and Light (GPL) said that on Sunday two of the company’s Wartsila Engines – one at Garden of Eden and one at Kingston – experienced mechanical difficulties and so load shedding could not be avoided.

GPL in a statement added that the loss of the 11 MW capacity occurred while planned overhaul of the Number Two unit (6.9 MW) at the new Kingston Plant is being done as scheduled, and resulted in a shortage of capacity to meet demand in the Demerara System.

Therefore, emergency load shedding was instituted throughout the Demerara System from Monday night, and was expected to continue until 13:00hrs yesterday when repairs to one of the units would have been completed.

On Monday night villages stretching from Versailles to La Retraite were without power from 18:29hrs to 20:20hrs, Windsor Forest to Edinburg from 19:06hrs to 21:10hrs and the Sophia area from 18:35hrs to 21:05hrs, GPL said.

GPL stated that on Monday, consumers from Good Hope to Industry and in South and North Ruimveldt, Guyhoc Park, Tucville and Shirley Field-Ridley Scheme were without power from shortly after 08:00hrs on Monday morning. Repairs to the second engine were expected to be completed by midnight.

Meanwhile, GPL extended its sincerest appreciation to customers for their patience and expressed regret at any inconvenience caused.