$1.5B management upgrade programme… Canadian electricity experts prepare to start training GPL senior staffers

Oct 15, 2016 News

GPL’s Chairman, Robert Badal with the Canadian officials yesterday.

Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), under pressure to boost its performance, is embarking on a major programme to upgrade its senior management and executives.
The US$7.3M project will see Canada’s Manitoba Hydro International Limited (MHI), over the next three years, providing on-the-job training in the various departments of GPL.
Seven utility specialists, targeting technical and administrative areas, will be foot-to-foot with GPL senior management officials, including technical staffers, to attempt to move the power company on par with the rest of the world.
GPL Chairman, Robert Badal, during a press conference at the Pegasus Hotel to introduce MHL officials, stressed that the Canadian company will not be running the company but will lend valuable advice and training.
The Management Strengthening Programme (MSP) is a component of the US$65M Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)/European Union (EU) funded Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP).
MHI, a few weeks ago, was awarded the three-year training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer contract with GPL, after tendering for the project. IDB selected the company, one of the most significant for power companies in recent years, from a list of other tenders.
Among other things MHI will be supporting GPL in its performance of key business areas to improve the utility’s capabilities for providing an efficient, reliable, and sustainable service.
It will support senior management through a combination of classroom-based training and on the job training. This one-on-one coaching will address the unique learning and development needs of GPL’s senior management.
“MHI will provide formal and informal training focused on industry best practices to assist GPL’s senior management in creating a target state (vision) for the company.”
Once the target state is defined, MHI will work closely with GPL management to formulate the business plans aimed at achieving the overall vision.
“This plan will include mapping out GPL’s core business processes and looking for ways to improve the overall efficiency of GPL,” the company stated yesterday.
MHI will focus on the professional development of GPL’s senior management team. Individual professional development plans will be created to identify the skills and competency requirements for each management position, along with corresponding actions.
These actions may include formal classroom type training, less formal on the job training, and ongoing coaching and mentoring from the MHI utility specialists.
It is intended for senior managers, to enable them to transfer the benefits of their exposure to their staff.
The MHI team will include seven full-time utility specialists and eight short-term training support specialists.
These specialists will work in partnership with GPL staff to achieve the utility’s objectives.
MHI said its projects are staffed with experienced individuals who are specialised in their field, through a combination of internal, external, and parent company resources.
For over 30 years, MHI says it has delivered energy services to clients in over 75 countries.
“MHI is dedicated to creating lasting relationships, and collaborating closely with clients to suit their specific needs and achieve their desired outcomes.”
In operation for over 130 years, Manitoba Hydro is a vertically integrated, government-owned Canadian Provincial Crown Corporation. The corporation holds in-service assets in excess of $17 billion, generates over $2 billion in annual revenue, and employs over 6,500 utility staff. Manitoba Hydro is a major energy utility that is intimately involved in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of electricity and gas infrastructure.
Present at the press conference at Pegasus Hotel were MHI’s Scott Russell, Ian Paige and
Rob Schumann.
GPL’s Chief Executive Officer (ag), Renford Homer; and Project Coordinator, Power Utility Upgrade Programme, Donald Nurse were also there.

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