The Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) on Tuesday commissioned its 15.6 megawatt Wärtsilä Power Plant extension at Kingston. The US$20M Wärtsilä generators are aimed at improving power generation and distribution to customers on the national grid.
The simple commissioning ceremony saw President Bharrat Jagdeo unveiling a plaque at the Kingston plant.
President Bharrat Jagdeo gave the feature address. He emphasised that it is imperative the power company meets the demand of the country, so as not to retard the expectations of citizens. He said it is important that the power company continues to replace old units with those that are more efficient and effective. Jagdeo said Guyana’s electricity sector is well aligned with the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy. “We have decided that the future of Guyana has to be around renewable.”
Speaking of the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project, the president termed it “a very important project.” He continued: “This is going to be a big project… given our fuel import bill… this is a huge project for the country, and we are ensuring that the resources are spent transparently.” President Jagdeo said that 95 per cent of the country’s power needs will come from the project; but he noted that with the rise in demand, even the hydro power project would be limited.
“We will have to look for additional resources… we are poised for the take-off,” the president declared.
GPL Chairman Winston Brassington
Meanwhile, GPL Chief Executive Officer Bharat Dindyal said the demand for electricity has risen over the years. He explained that, since 2005, the company has been setting new power production records, with the average annual growth over the last five years being 4.4 per cent.
“Generation this year is forecasted at just over 650 gigawatt hours, with the Demerara interconnected system accounting for 79 per cent of that. Peak demand in Demerara is now approaching 80 megawatts.
The demand during business hours is at 77 megawatts; available generation in Demerara without this 15.6-megawatt expansion is 86 megawatts, with 19 megawatts being mobile capital and capacity.
“Without this expansion, a reliable base load generation capacity is 59 megawatts. The need to invest in new base load capacity is therefore obvious.”
He said GPL is forecasting that the demand for electricity will continue to grow above four per cent in the next five years, and peak demand in the Demerara- Berbice interconnected system is expected to reach 112 megawatts by 2014.
“It is known that there is a high correlation between electricity demand and the economic health of the country; and GPL’s focus would be conservative if in fact Guyana’s economy continues to experience growth.” Dindyal said the power company has enjoyed a good partnership with Wärtsilä Caribbean Incorporated Services, and last year the duo signed a USD$18.3 million agreement for two Wärtsilä generators.
“This expanded power plant… with a capacity of 36.3 megawatts, is GPL’s largest, most modern power generation facility. It is designed to comply with stringent environmental standards,” Dindyal said, noting that almost all consumers in the immediate environs of the plant would benefit. Dindyal said, however, that the company continues to experience several problems, and is working to have those issues resolved.
“The vast majority of our power problems now are… maintenance, network faults, and switching activities.” It is hoped that by 2012 the company would be able to introduce new designs that will vastly improve the reliability of its network.
Wärtsilä Caribbean Incorporated Services General Manager Mark Tarbox said the partnership with GPL spans some 19 years. Tarbox said the newest plant expansion brings the total energy on the national grid to 120 megawatts.
Wärtsilä itself operates some 80 megawatts under the umbrella of the operations and maintenance agreement with GPL. GPL Chairman Winston Brassington stressed that the demand for electricity has gone up considerably.
“In 2005, we had 127,000 customers, at the end of last year 151,000 – an increase of approximately 25,000 customers.” He said that 36 megawatts of new power were added to Demerara within the last two years, to the tune of US$50 million.
The GPL chairman added that the government has been supportive of the company, and has continually invested money in it to ensure that all sections of the country receive power.
Minister responsible for the electricity sector, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, said he is proud of the accomplishments made in the electricity sector. “It is another day that we take a step towards having adequate supply of electricity for reliable and dependable quantities for our people.” He said government’s vision is to have every single household within the country being able to obtain electricity, but he noted that the provision of reliable electricity to the national grid has to be done within the ambit of climate change.
Hinds noted that several projects are on stream in this respect. He pointed to the Amaila Falls Hydro Power project and the possibility of wind energy.
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