GPL facing major challenges protecting distribution system

Mar 04, 2017 News

– Patterson hopes int’l firms will fix blackouts by end of 2017
Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson has admitted that the Guyana Power and

Minister David Patterson

Light Incorporated (GPL) has been experiencing difficulty with protecting its distribution system. This has led to the poor delivery of electricity.
Patterson explained that GPL was able to overcome the hurdles with regard to electricity generation.
“We have enough generators working and power provided, but what happened is that we have a problem with the distribution of that power, and that is one of the issues we have to address with Lot A of the Power Utility Upgrade Programme,” he said in a Government statement.
The Minister noted that there are many hurdles with the distribution of electricity, especially on the coast, but efforts are in place to ensure that the distribution system is improved.
The Minister acknowledged that the power company has a lot more work to do towards achieving this goal, but efforts will be intensified to ensure that this is feasible by the end of 2017. He said that by that time, the distribution system will be fully protected, so in the event of emergencies such as a collision from an accident or a fallen tree, the disruption will be isolated to that particular area, and not affect the entire coast like in the past.
“When there is an accident, the whole feedback is damaged, and every time this happens we give citizens the same excuse; we don’t want this anymore, so we’re moving ahead to have this improved for the future,” the Public Infrastructure Minister disclosed.
Among other things, the protection of the distribution system will be complemented with the installation of the ‘redundant’ lines and the upgrading of sub-stations, Minister Patterson said.

Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson, has acknowledged that the protection of the power distribution system remains vulnerable. Works will be ongoing to reduce the problems by yearend.

“This means the Ministry of Public Infrastructure will begin pursuing alternative power lines at crucial locations across the country, so as to avert major power failures and upgrade the six existing sub-stations within the system to produce better voltage stability and reduce technical losses.”
He added that currently GPL has a contract out, and received responses from three reputable international firms whose representatives will be coming shortly to look at the entire system, “and to upgrade our protection; so if there is a problem that particular section will only be affected.”
Additionally, a feasibility study will be carried out to assess where protection is needed. “I am positive that by the end of 2017 we can have this problem fixed,” Minister Patterson stated.