Latest update April 9th, 2025 12:59 AM
GPL to enhance service with additional sub-stations countrywide – Dindyal
By Rabindra Rooplall
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) plans to spend US$57.8M under its Transmission and Distribution
CEO of GPL Bharrat Dindyal
(T&D) Expansion and Modernization Plan for the construction of several sub-stations countrywide, according to GPL Chief Executive Officer, Bharrat Dindyal.
The plan to install substations is aimed at improving supply quality and available distribution network capacity and also reduce technical losses. Shorter feeders and lighter loads would allow for improved overall management, including maintenance and reduction in unserved energy due to line plant unavailability.
The timing of construction of the various Substations is targeted at optimizing network capacity to meet current demand and expected growth over a ten-year period in an efficient and timely manner.
In 2011 GPL saw the largest level of increase of customers, double that of the previous year, potentially suggesting that GPL will need to invest more to keep pace of supply and cost of new connections.
Addressing a Public Presentation held at Regency Suites yesterday, Dindyal said that some of the new sub-stations will be located at Vreed-en-Hoop, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, Sophia, Williamsburg Berbice, South Georgetown (New Georgetown Substation) and expansion of the existing sub-stations at Sophia and Kingston in Demerara.
GPL’s plans to use the benefits of loss reduction to stabilize tariffs and attract self generators to the grid could be derailed if fuel prices increase significantly beyond the forecasted eight per cent per annum.
Dindyal noted that GPL would have to continue to rely on Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) capacity to meet demand and energy needs should the commercial operation of Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project be delayed.
Dindyal underscored that the 165 megawatt Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project is expected to be completed by November 2015 with at least 140 megawatts becoming available at the delivery points (Linden and Sophia). This project, with adequate compensation in the GPL network should provide 91 per cent of all GPL’s energy requirements by 2016.
The next five years would in many ways define the GPL of the future as three transformative projects are expected to be completed. These projects entail the Infrastructure Development Project, the Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project and the Essequibo Interconnection.
It was explained that the expansion plan for Essequibo includes the installation in 2012 of two 600kVa gensets at Leguan and one similar unit at Wakenaam. In 2013 it is proposed to install a used 3MW Heavy Fuel Oil-fired Unit at Anna Regina and a used 2MW HFO fired unit at Bartica.
It was further noted during Dindyal’s presentation that the risk of not expanding its market size would result in GPL having to pay for energy and capacity that it cannot use when hydroelectricity comes on line in 2015.
Further plans for GPL reveal that the Georgetown 60Hz standardization plan, which is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2013 is premised on the 22MW Wartsila built plant at Kingston being converted to 60Hz, starting in the final quarter of 2012. The plant will be converted in two phases with each phase lasting approximately three months.
During this period 11MW capacity would be unavailable which would create a deficit in generation capacity in Demerara, using the usual reserve criteria. The current plan is to use rented Cat modules to cover the shortfall.
Last year, 79 percent of GPL’s generation came from HFO. Using Heavy Fuel Oil proved to be 77 per cent cheaper than diesel. With a 140 MW hydropower project achieving commercial operation in November 2015, GPL will need fossil fuel for 4% of its electricity supply but this is expected to reduce to 0.4 per cent in 2016.
Funding over the next five years will come from both internal and external sources. External sources include the IDB, the Exim Bank of China and Government of Guyana.
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