GPL should have learned from previous cable experience

Nov 05, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
I want to believe that the GPL management did not properly study the situation concerning the laying of cables across the Demerara River. During the late fifties and early sixties we experienced a lot of difficulties with a submarine cable that was laid across the river. We found that the cable was often damaged by bauxite ships when they cast or weighed anchor. We found that even though the cable was buried and anchored somehow portions of it floated on the river bed. The river was dredged to 22.5 feet depth but this did not prevent the ships from doing damage.
The decision was later taken to lay a new cable from New Hope to Vriesland on the West Bank. After this was done, we found that no more incidents of damage were recorded. Now this was an 11KV cable and was considered to be very expensive in those times. Now what about a 69KV cable in these times of very high costs? The 69KV lines could have been extended from Vreed-en-Hoop to Vriesland and a substation placed behind Hutsonville. This substation would now have been able to cater for the needs of industrial development of the middle East Bank corridor.
Those who decided on the river crossing in the estuary should have first done the research and they would not have made such a crazy decision. The 69KV intertie was part of the US$40m deal with the Chinese. It is being said that no counterpart engineers from the GPL had anything to do with this project. It was executed and then just handed over to the utility. It is doubtful whether any GPL personnel were present at the commissioning. The substations at Good Hope and Columbia look suspect to me. There appears to be problems with their construction.
I wonder if the GPL has considered the usefulness of bundling conductors on the intertie, so that if feasible, we can supply greater power along this route. Once the structures can take the loading from the extra conductors, this would be a worthwhile solution to the problem. I have observed quite a few portions of the 69KV lines built by the Chinese. I do not feel that all is well with their construction. There are many features that I believe will lead to disruptions and tripping as time goes by. GPL has experienced personnel in its employ and these persons should be allowed to work along with whoever comes to perform new infrastructural works. Keeping them out of the fray will only lead to us, the public, having to face disruptions of power supply ever so often.
Cyril Walker

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