–as power ship now operating at maximum capacity

IN a significant boost to the country’s energy infrastructure, the 36-megawatt power ship has reached its maximum operational capacity, almost two weeks after being connected to the national grid.

In a Facebook post on Monday, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) announced that on Saturday, the power ship incrementally increased its generation output to 36 megawatts (MW) to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS) located at Everton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

“A capacity test was completed today, confirming the power ship is now at its maximum capacity of 36 MW. This significant boost in generation has resulted in a reduction in service interruptions,” the power company said.

This milestone highlights the successful integration of this floating vessel into Guyana’s national grid, ensuring a stable and reliable electricity supply for the population. The vessel began supplying the grid with 18 MW just over a week ago.

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 power ship which arrived in Guyana on May 1 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.

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.