The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) yesterday said that the Number Three Wartsila generator at Garden-of-Eden, as was reported earlier, suffered a major mechanical failure on January 29.
As a result, metallurgical analysis of some failed components is being done in a specilaised facility to determine what would have precipitated the failure.
In the meantime, GPL’s insurance claim is being processed. It is expected that the 5.5 megawatt unit would be returned to service before December.
Generation availability in Demerara is now impacted by the absence of this 5.5 megawatt unit and the commencement of major maintenance at the new 20.7 megawatt plant in Kingston.
The first 6.9 megawatt unit was released for its major overhaul last Sunday evening for a period of 18 days. Major overhaul on the other two units will be done successively after the first is completed, with each lasting approximately 18 days.
GPL noted that during these maintenance activities, GPL will rely heavily on a large fleet of high speed Caterpillar gensets and some old generating units to meet the evening peak. In this arrangement, there is the inherent risk that generation capacity may be inadequate due to forced outages. Recognising this reality, GPL has published a load shedding guide in the Guyana Chronicle.
GPL said the daily load shedding guide will be advertised on the National Communications Network (NCN) Radio and television and CNS Channel Six. Consumers should be advised that the level of load-shedding programme is based on a demand forecast; and if the demand happens to be less than the forecast, then the level of load-shedding will be reduced accordingly.
GPL regrets the inconvenience load-shedding would cause, but solicits the patience and understanding of its consumers.
With fuel prices increasing daily and currently exceeding US$112 a barrel, on a weighted average basis, GPL continues its call for consumers to conserve.