The recent commissioning of the new Wartsila generators should significantly boost our electricity supply as it would add another 15.6 megawatts. This positive development should bring a sigh of relief to consumers, as they have had to endure a torrid time with respect to the supply of electricity which deteriorated terribly during the 1970s and 1980s and  those problems which began during that era have overlapped into the present era, despite persistent and valiant efforts by the current government to improve the situation.
What is undeniable is the fact that while there has not been a complete solution to the electricity woes there has been a dramatic improvement to a very complex problem and therefore there is no easy fix to it.
What has compounded the already complex electricity problem is the fact that because of the turn around of the economy in the last decade economic, commercial and industrial activities have led to a huge increase in the demand for electricity. In addition, living standards have risen appreciably and the use of household electrical appliances has increased sharply, further adding to the demand for electricity. Appliances such as fridges, televisions, computers washing machines, kettles etc are no longer luxuries as they were three decades ago. Instead, they are now the norm in most households. Also, the booming housing development across the country has resulted in greater demand for electricity.
So while the Guyana Power and Light Company is battling to overcome the problems which began over three decades ago, simultaneously it has to deal with the rapid increase in demand for electricity and of course periodic, spiralling fuel prices have not made it any easier.
During this extremely difficult period, the government has invested heavily in the power company and has also been making genuine long-term efforts and plans to bring a permanent solution to our electricity woes.
President Jagdeo, speaking at the Wartsila commissioning ceremony, said that the demand for power has grown significantly and some of this has to do with the Government’s turning around of the economy.
He said that the demand must be met or else growth could be retarded and the legitimate expectations of the people could be stymied.
He said that the government had no small feat on its hands in replacing the entire base load capacity from the time the present government took office in 1992. Further, he said that the government had to address the drag that fuel purchases for power became on the treasury.
“Today, GPL pays its way,” he said, adding however that government has made, and will continue to make, capital investments and support the power utility company.
“The recovery process is a pleasing one for me,” he said. He added that apart from the short-term interventions needed to add capacity, the government is ensuring it plans for the long term, referring to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electricity Project.
“Our strategy on electricity is aligned to the Low Carbon Development Strategy,” he said, adding that the project was important not only for the reduction of Guyana’s carbon emissions reduction, but also for saving Guyana much needed revenue in terms of oil purchases for power generation. He said that with the project, the country will not be as exposed to the volatility of oil price movements.
The President is correct, because in the long term we cannot afford to depend on what is generated by fossil fuel.This is because our manufacturing industries will suffer as they will not be able to compete as a result of high manufacturing costs; and at the same time use of fossil fuel runs counter to the LCDS for which we are the leading global advocate.
However, the recent additional power-generating capacity is further evidence that the government is genuinely committed to improving the supply of electricity to meet demand.