Latest update April 5th, 2025 12:59 AM
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Co-generation at new sugar factory… Skeldon close to selling power to GPL
…minor clarifications to be finalized – Persaud
A section of the cogeneration aspect of the sugar factory that is slated to supply electricity to the national grid
By Gary Eleazar
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is currently engaged in negotiating a power purchase agreement with the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL). A deal is almost done, and there are currently some minor clarifications remaining.
This is according to Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, who toured the new Skeldon Sugar Factory on Thursday.
Persaud was referring to the deal through which GuySuCo, by way of the cogeneration factory, will supply some 20 megawatts of power to the national electricity grid.
Following the successful tests for sugar production at the factory earlier this week, bagasse was accumulated to facilitate a test of the generators at the factory that would be supplying electricity to the national grid.
This would also mark the largest leap in bio-fuel energy in Guyana’s history, but not the first, given that the Wauna Palm Oil project has been producing bio-diesel for electricity in Region One.
The connection to the national grid at Skeldon would only be made possible when the power cables required are in place, and this would only be made possible when the Chinese Government makes good on its commitment of a US$40M loan to facilitate the installation of the power line from Parika to Berbice.
President Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on his return from China on Wednesday, said that while in that country for the World Economic Forum, he took the opportunity to meet with the Governor of the Import-Export Bank (Exim-Bank) of China.
The President also spoke about the agreement that was recently signed between Guyana and the Exim Bank, which would see that institution giving financial support to Guyana’s power sector.
The agreement will enable the Guyana Government to access the Chinese Government concessional loan that will finance the development and expansion of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) transmission and distribution system.
Guyana had made an application for a loan to build a transmission power main right across the country from Parika to Berbice at a cost of about US$40M, and the lenders have indicated that as soon as the final feasibility is completed, there will be an evaluation of the project.
The Skeldon Factory will be producing a total of 40MW of electricity, 30 of which will be from the cogeneration aspect of the facility using bagasse.
This will be complementing the 10MW that is already produced at the factory using steam units.
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