GUYANA Power and Light Inc. (GPL) Project Engineer – Civil Engineer, Mr. Erwin Chapman told reporters during a visit yesterday at the Kingston Plant, Georgetown that they began testing of the engines on Tuesday. He added that they are ahead of the November 5, 2009 deadline and so far they have fired up number two and three engines and later this week the number one engine will be turned on.

The engine at Kingston Plant being “fired up” yesterday under the testing period. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photo)

He said that the tests were effected to ensure that the engines are in working order, which will add 20.7 megawatts to the power grid when they become operational.

Production from the 20.7 megawatts factory will be fed into the Demerara Interconnected System, resulting in a significant reduction of generating problems being experienced in various areas presently.

GPL is also currently undertaking maintenance of transmission and distribution lines countywide and that has caused a shortfall in electricity generation.

Negotiations are ongoing for a major project with support from China, which will see seven new sub-stations established in Demerara and East Berbice within two years.

That accomplishment would ease current transmission and distribution difficulties, McGregor said.

Meanwhile, GPL is laying a cable link from its Sophia complex to the Kingston Station simultaneously with a frequency conversion programme.