Prime Minister Samuel Hinds underscored the importance of the energy sector in the advancement of Guyana’s development when the sod was turned for the construction of seven 69/ 13.8 KV substations and installation of 110km of 69KV overhead transmission lines at North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.
Speaking at the event, Hinds said that, after construction, there will be equitable transmission of power into the national grid, a project that holds tremendous potential for Guyana’s development.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Li Qin Feng, turning the sod for commencement of the G$8.5B GPL infrastructural development project
“Today is a milestone for Guyana, for the supply of electricity in our country… this programme had started a year ago with tendering of bids from Chinese construction companies,” Prime Minister Hinds said.
He said that the project was financed under a Chinese loan amounting to US$42M, which will cater for the construction of substations and improvements in the transmission lines.
The new substations will be constructed in Georgetown, Durban Backlands, Diamond, Good Hope, Mahaica and Versailles in Demerara; and at Edinburgh in East Berbice. There will be upgrades to Onverwagt and Sophia, and on transmission lines from Kingston, Georgetown to Versailles, West Bank Demerara via submarine cables; Sophia to Georgetown, Sophia to Onverwagt, and cables from Versailles to Edinburgh.
The prime minister is responsible for the energy sector. He said that, over the past 19 years, the administration has brought about great improvement in all spheres of development, and the energy sector is no exception.
“Even though today we are working and earning more from our work since the PPP/ C government came into office in 1992, we are still not a very rich country, and therefore we have to spend our money carefully … After several discussions, we finally approved and accepted the proposal for an improved project,” a GINA release quoted him as saying.
According to him, the state of electricity supply prior to 1992 left much to be desired, and “where there were long, uncertain periods of power outages; and coming into office at that time, with no money and high debts, we had to carefully spend our money to satisfy the demand for power”. The prime minister boasted that the government’s prudent management of the economy has allowed citizens to benefit from an improved supply of electricity.
“We, as a government, see the importance of electricity for development. We have not only supplied electricity to those on the coast, but also those in the hinterland,” he said.
Government, he said, recently sealed an agreement that will see 11,000 households in hinterland communities benefiting from photo- voltaic solar home systems.
In addition, he said, the government will also be installing small grids in remote areas, including in Lethem, Port Kaituma, Matthews Ridge, and Moruca.
“Our aim is to have every household benefiting from some amount of electrification, and we also want our people to step up for their responsibility and pay for what they use,” the prime minister urged.
Meanwhile, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, Li Qin Feng, who was also present at the sod-turning ceremony, reaffirmed China’s commitment to continue working with the government and people of Guyana.
Project director Jin Huibao assured the government that the project will be completed to high standards and within the allotted time frame.
