SEVEN specialists from a Canadian company, Manitoba Hydro International Ltd. (MHI) will be assisting the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), to improve its overall efficiency.This was disclosed Thursday by GPL Chairman, Robert Badal at a media briefing hosted at the Pegasus Hotel, Kingston Georgetown. The 36-months programme is a capacity building and knowledge transfer initiative, under the Management Strengthening Programme (MSP). It is a component of the IADB/EU funded Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP) valued at US$7.6M.

The Chairman said the power company wants to reduce its 29% loss that it is experiencing. He said MHI was awarded a three-year training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer contract with GPL.

MHI’s objectives for the MSP project include: support GPL in its performance of key business areas to improve the utility’s capabilities for providing an efficient, reliable, and sustainable service; support senior management through a combination of classroom-based training and on-the-job training. This one-on-one coaching will address the unique learning and development needs of GPL’s senior management.

Badal explained that MHI will provide formal and informal training focused on industry best practices to assist GPL’s senior management in creating a target state (vision) for the company. Once the target state is defined, MHI will work closely with GPL management to formulate the business plans aimed at achieving the overall vision. This plan will include mapping out GPL’s core business processes and looking for ways to improve the overall efficiency of GPL.

He said MHI will focus on the professional development of GPL’s senior management team. Individual professional development plans will be created, which will identify the skills and competency requirements for each management position, along with corresponding actions. These actions may include formal classroom type training, less formal on-the-job training, and ongoing coaching and mentoring from the MHI utility specialists.

“The intended outcome is to strengthen our company’s managerial capabilities by implementing a Management Strengthening Programme (MSP) to support senior management…It is intended for senior managers to transfer the benefits of their exposure to this programme into staff within their respective Divisions and Departments,” the GPL Chairman said.

According to MHI official, Rob Schumann, the company assists clients to deliver electricity and natural gas efficiently, effectively, and in a sustainable manner. As a subsidiary of a Canadian energy utility, Manitoba Hydro, MHI offers clients over a century’s worth of best practice experience.

“MHI strives to provide clients with the same quality of service and proven methods that have been mastered in one of North America’s most efficient and best-managed energy utilities. For over 30 years, MHI has delivered energy services to clients in over 75 countries. MHI is dedicated to creating lasting relationships, and collaborating closely with clients to suit their specific needs and achieve their desired outcomes,” he explained.

Underscoring that the company has been in operation for over 130 years, Schuman said Manitoba Hydro is a vertically integrated, government-owned Canadian Provincial Crown Corporation. The corporation holds in-service assets in excess of $17 billion, generates over $2 billion in annual revenue, and employs over 6,500 utility staff. Manitoba Hydro is a major energy utility that is intimately involved in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of electricity and gas infrastructure.