A CONTRACT has been awarded for the procurement of two electrical transformers; one is destined for Mahdia, in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni), while the other is for Port Kaituma in the Barima/Waini district of Region 1. Electricity services provided to these two hinterland communities need upgrading.

The supply contract was awarded to Tels Engineering Services under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s Hinterland Electrification Unit (HEU).
The contractor has to procure the items from Howard Industries of the USA at an approved cost of $973M.

Head of the HEU, Horace Williams, explained that the two new transformers will, in time, render the ones currently serving the two communities redundant. He said that, at the moment, there is only one transformer in place in each of the two communities, and if either or both were to break down, then both communities would be completely out of power.

“The idea,” he said, “is to bring in these two new ones to work as backup, so that when they are installed, the residents can continue to receive service without disruption in the event of any breakdown.”

The two new transformers are expected to arrive by mid-March next year, Williams said, as he explained that their delay is because they are not shelf items.

“They have to be built from scratch (and) according to our specifications, so the seller will send us the designs and drawings. We, in Guyana, have to approve of them first, and only then can they be built and sent to us,” he explained.

Delivery is expected 16 weeks after signing of the contract which was awarded two weeks ago.