36-megawatt power ship connected to national grid
The 36-megawatt power ship
The 36-megawatt power ship

IN a significant step towards enhancing the nation’s energy stability, the newly connected power ship has started supplying electricity to the national grid.
The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) announced on Saturday that 18 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation from the vessel is now being integrated into the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) at Everton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This marine-based energy solution boasts the capacity to generate up to 36 megawatts of electricity, powered predominantly by heavy fuel oil (HFO).
According to the power company, the remaining 18 MW will be added to the grid incrementally during the course of the coming week.

Engineers have been working ‘around the clock’ to ensure that the power ship is up and running

GPL thanked the government, the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), E-Net, GAICO Construction Incorporated and its dedicated Transmission and Distribution and Protection and Instrumentation employees for their invaluable contribution towards realising this timely initiative. The company has also thanked its customers for having patience and understanding.
The power ship arrived in Guyana on May 1. This addition is expected to alleviate the pressure on the national grid, particularly during peak consumption hours, and reduce the frequent power outages that have plagued various regions across the country.

The vessel last operated in Cuba and has two engines which produce 18.5 megawatts each. Moreover, it will operate at a remarkable 96 per cent availability, and is integrated into GPL’s grid at 69 kilovolts (kV).
On April 13, GPL signed a contract with Urbacon Concessions Investments, W.L.L (UCI) to charter the power ship for a period of two years, with US$1 million paid as a mobilisation fee.
The contract includes the provision of operational and maintenance services as part of the agreement.

Engineers have been working ‘around the clock’ to ensure that the power ship is up and running

UCI is a subsidiary of UCC Holdings, a company incorporated in the State of Qatar. UCC Holdings has a strategic alliance with Karpowership International, a Turkish company.
Under the terms of the agreement, GPL will pay a monthly charter fee of 6.62 US cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) for the power ship, along with a 0.98 US cents per kWh operation and maintenance fee based on electricity generation.

The utility company is also responsible for the supply of heavy fuel oil for operation of the generators of the vessel.
The persistent power outages, attributed to various factors including aging infrastructure and increased demand, have underscored the urgent need for infrastructural upgrades within GPL’s network. In response, GPL is actively exploring renewable-energy options, and is poised to embrace the government’s gas-to-energy project, which aims to supply around 300 megawatts of power by the last quarter of 2024.

Vice-President, Dr Bharrat Jagdeo, has reassured citizens that energy costs will not escalate because of the rental of the power supply ship, highlighting the government’s commitment to stable and affordable energy solutions.

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