$66.2B for further upgrades to transmission and distribution network

Jan 30, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – The 2026 budget has an allocation of $66.2B to address further upgrades to the transmission and distribution network (T&D Network) with the aim to improve the national grid.

This was announced by Senior Minister with Responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh on Monday during his budget presentation. The minister told the House that, “Upgrading of the T&D network which, when completed, will facilitate the efficient transfer of power from GTE at Wales to Garden of Eden, then to Goedverwagting and onwards to Sophia, along the East Coast of Demerara, and finally across the Berbice River and extending to No. 53 Village.  In 2026, the sum of $66.2 billion is budgeted to upgrade our T&D network.”

There will also be improved power management by operationalising a full-scale smart grid, while implementing advanced metering infrastructure, and increasing technical capacity. He reminded the National Assembly that from August 2020 to present his administration has added over 186 MW of new generating capacity to GPL’s integrated system and commenced the upgrade of its transmission and distribution (T&D) network, and overall, $123.3 billion was expended for the continued development of the energy sector.

The vision for the future is to expand and modernise the energy sector and this is premised on providing adequate electricity to meet the rapidly growing demands both future and current, producing more affordable electricity, therefore facilitating a cost reduction to consumers “and improving our competitiveness; enhancing grid quality, stability and reliability; and diversifying the energy mix as we advance the steady transformation of the sector to cleaner and more renewable sources with the aim of ensuring national energy security,” the minister added.

In April of 2025 this publication reported that Power China and Indian firm Kalpataru signed contracts worth some US $422 million (GUY $90 billion) for the extension of transmission lines for Guyana Power and Light (GPL Inc).

During a press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister’s boardroom, the head of GPL’s executive management committee, Kesh Nandlall, said it is no secret that Guyana has the fastest-growing economy in the world. He said GPL’s role is of paramount importance in supporting the energy needs of the country.

“The Government of Ireland has invested in the gas-to-energy project, which aims to deliver an additional 300 megawatts to the national grid in the first phase, followed by another 300 megawatts second phase. The primary challenge for GPL will be to ensure that the delivery of the power is delivered to the various regions across the country. Addressing this challenge necessitates the construction of infrastructure for the transmission and distribution. We are here because we have started that process, and I would like to let you know that this project that we are going to sign today is the largest ever investment for GPL in infrastructure development in a one-time investment,” Nandlall said.

He disclosed that there are three lots for the projects in the eastern corridor of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). Lot One was awarded to Power China in the sum of USD $256.7 million, while contracts for the other two lots were won by Kalpataru for USD $156.5 million.

Nandlall explained, “These lots include 155 kilometers of 230 double circuit transmission line, 167 kilometers of 69 kV double circuit transmission line, the construction of five new substations and the upgrade of one substation at Kingston. The 230 kV transmission line will interconnect with the Goedverwagting substation that is now being constructed under the GTE project, to a new substation to be constructed in Williamsburg, East Berbice.”

The 69 kV line will include replacing the current lines of the same nature on the railway embankment and will interconnect with the new substation in East Berbice. The other new substations will be located in LBI, Enmore, Trafalgar, and Williamsburg.

Fast forward to November of last year it was reported by the Kaieteur News that the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has signed contracts worth over US$235M to further advance works aimed at expanding and modernising the grid. The company, in an announcement on Friday via its Facebook page said that the contracts were signed this week. The power company signed a US$199 million (43 billion GYD) contract with Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL), which was followed by a US$35.93 million (7.5 billion GYD) contract with China National Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CMC), which was signed on Wednesday.

The contract with KPIL entails the execution of new substations as well as transmission and distribution lines which will lead to upgrades and expansions in the national grid. There will be the construction of 42 km of new 69 kV Transmission Lines, as well as four new 69/13.8 kV substations at, Kuru Kururu, Soesdyke; Williamsburg, East Berbice, Corentyne; Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo and Princes Street, Georgetown.

There will also be the “construction of a total 18 new primary distribution feeders for the new substations. Upgrade and expansion of the New Georgetown and Garden of Eden substations. These upgrades will replace outdated infrastructure, install modern electrical and automation systems, integrate SCADA/EMS technologies, and support remote operations from the new and modern Guyana National Control Centre (GNCC), currently under construction,” GPL said.

The contract with CMC will address the strengthening and expansion of the distribution network through the construction of more than 193 km of new distribution feeders with smart equipment, the supply of advanced smart distribution equipment and addressing the unserved areas in Demerara and Berbice.

“These improvements will reduce power outages, improve power quality and enhance overall distribution system’s reliability on the East Bank Essequibo, West Coast and West Bank Demerara, East Bank Demerara, East Coast Demerara and East Berbice.

Together, these projects form an ongoing transformative investment in Guyana’s electricity sector, strengthening both transmission and distribution systems’ infrastructure, while positioning GPL to meet the nation’s ever-increasing energy demand with greater efficiency, reliability and resilience,” GPL further stated.

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• 2026 budget, Ashni Singh, GPL, T&D Network, upgrades

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