Latest update November 26th, 2024 1:00 AM
GPL eyes installing two more Wartsila sets by August next year
– examines buying old Omai generators
Government has started negotiations for two new Wartsila engines to reduce power outages.
Yesterday, Bharat Dindyal, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) confirmed that talks are underway. Hopefully the new sets will be in the country and operational by next August.
The three new Wartsila sets that were installed last December at the Kingston power station.
It is the plan to install the new sets, expected to have a capacity of 15.6 megawatts, at Kingston where three other engines were installed last year.
Increasing demands coupled with aging converter sets have been dogging GPL’s attempts.
This comes even after last year’s promises that the newly installed engines would have given the country some breathing space, at least for a while.
Recently, President Bharrat Jagdeo signaled more engines may be in line for GPL soon.
He estimated that over US$20M will have to be spent.
Last year, it was the expressed hope that the new engines would have solved the power woes to especially the Demerara area.
According to Dindyal yesterday, the intentions are to link the West Demerara area to Kingston via a cable.
Currently, there is one that links the Garden of Eden power station to Versailles, but the limited capacity has been proving a problem.
Kaieteur News also understands that GPL is considering buying two generating sets that belong to Bosai Mining. The sets were used at the Omai Gold Mines, which has since closed it operations.
A GPL official has confirmed the interest in the used sets but cautioned that several detailed checks will have to be made before any decisions are made about the acquisitions.
With the planned Amaila Falls hydro-electric not expected before the next five years, GPL has little options to meet increasing demands for power, especially with the new housing schemes and businesses springing up across the country.
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