THE Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has several projects in train to maximise the potential of power generation in both the short and long-term.
Samaroo Ramtahal, the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Strategic Operations at GPL, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that they were looking at three avenues.

One of the projects entails securing an additional five megawatts of power from the Giftland Mall through a Power Purchase Agreement.
Personnel are currently on the ground working on the connections, and GPL expects to see the project completed by month-end. This will bring much-needed relief and reduce blackouts for thousands of residents on the East Coast corridor.

The Giftland system has a 6.7 megawatts output capacity. However, it uses only 1.6 megawatts during prime operations.
Ramtahal added preliminary works are also being set in motion for another 30 megawatts of power for the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System to ensure a merry Christmas.
The third project is a “dual engine for Garden of Eden to 46.5 megawatts,” the CEO said.  This is a major project for GPL, which is expected to be implemented by April-June, 2021.
“By that time we should be able to be in a better position to manage our reliability of electricity in this country,” Ramtahal said.

The DCEO told the DPI since his appointment he has uncovered a number of inconsistencies in the company’s management during the previous administration.
“I’m there for just two weeks, but I’ve discovered [that] over the last four to five years, investments to generation was [sic] under five per cent, [which is] merely seven megawatts,” Mr. Ramtahal revealed.

“We are trapped with a very low generation reserve and when we have problems, we do not have what you call ‘spinning reserves’ or spare reserves to ensure that the grid is operating in the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System,” he added.