GPL halts Garden of Eden operations over technical challenges

Jan 16, 2022 News

– load-shedding likely as Wartsila works to correct problems – PM

Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Friday evening held a special emergency meeting with the management of the Wartsila Corporation and subsequently announced that the operations at the Garden of Eden power plant has been temporarily halted.

Kaieteur News – Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips, on Friday evening held a special emergency meeting with the management of the Wartsila Corporation during which they agreed to immediately dispatch a team of engineers to Guyana to correct the technical challenges that have temporarily halted operations at the Garden of Eden Power Station.According to the Prime Minister, the facility is still under warranty, and as a result, the contracted Finnish company would be liable for any and all expenses. “As a Government, we will ensure that this project is fixed and that Wartsila covers the cost since there is a warranty in place.”

POOR MANAGEMENT BY APNU+AFC
He said that poor project management during the initial stage of the project by the APNU+AFC administration has resulted in numerous hindrances. “This 46.5-megawatt project was problematic from the start. The APNU+AFC Government embarked on this project in a rushed manner. From August 2, 2020, we have been dealing with a lot of corrective work as we seek to implement this project.”
The Prime Minister added that the generators were also reportedly manufactured in 2018, before the commencement of the project in 2019.
TEMPORARILY HALTED
Late Friday afternoon, the senior government official visited the power station and announced that operations at the facility will be temporarily halted as a result of technical challenges being experienced with the generators. On the advice of the technical officials, a decision was taken to shut down the generators to avert any occupational safety and health challenges or damage that may occur to the facility as a result. “This is a decision that was made based on safety. This is a 55-million US dollar investment, and precautions are necessary. We don’t want anybody to be hurt just because we decide to ignore what is happening and run the plant.”
Prime Minister Phillips said that with the Demerara Berbice Interconnected system now having less supply to cater to the demand for electricity, there may be load-shedding, but called on Guyanese to be patient. “I want the people of Guyana to understand from a safety and precautionary standpoint that it is necessary that we shut down this plant to do further checks. We will make sure that the problems are fixed. Unlike the previous administration, we intend to ensure that our people are given the best. One of the objectives of our Government is to end blackouts, and I intend to see that come to past.”