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Another excavator causes third GPL outage this week
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) will be pursuing legal action against a contractor who caused a total power shutdown in Sophia on Friday, after an excavator damaged the company’s transmission. This is the third outage the company suffered this week at the hands of an excavator.
In a statement, GPL said an investigation launched into the service interruption which affected customers from A to E Field Sophia found that critical underground infrastructure was damaged during excavation works associated with the pipe laying activities at Dennis Street, Sophia.
The damaged cable.
“At approximately 09:30hrs today, GPL’s Sophia F6 Feeder, which supplies electricity to communities from “A” to “E” Field, Sophia, tripped, resulting in a service interruption to affected customers. GPL immediately dispatched technical teams to investigate the cause of the disturbance. Upon arrival, teams discovered that a 13.8kV underground cable had been uprooted and severely damaged during excavation operations,” the company said.
The cable damaged was sustained during works carried out by V. Ramlall Contracting Services. However, following the incident, the contractor fled the scene. The operator of the excavator was subsequently arrested, while law enforcement authorities continue efforts to locate the contractor.
The ongoing works surrounding the damaged cable.
In keeping with the company’s zero tolerance approach towards reckless actions that lead to compromising the reliability, integrity and safety of the grid, GPL said it will pursue the matter to the fullest extent of the law. It also seeks requisite compensation for the damages, as well as repair costs and operational impacts that resulted from the incident.
“GPL considers incidents of this nature wholly unacceptable. Damage to critical electricity infrastructure not only disrupts service to customers, but also creates serious safety hazards, places workers and members of the public at risk, and can result in significant operational and financial consequences,” the company said.
In order to minimise the disruption to customers, technical teams from the company swiftly implemented alternative network arrangements and electricity supply was restored to the communities. Further assessments and permanent remedial works are ongoing, the power company noted.
The company is again strongly cautioning “contractors, developers and all parties undertaking excavation activities to exercise the highest degree of care before commencing works in areas where utility infrastructure may be present. Entities engaged in construction and excavation activities are expected to coordinate appropriately and take all necessary precautions to avoid damage to critical infrastructure.”
GPL remains unwavering in protecting the integrity of the national electricity network and will continue taking firm action against individuals or entities whose negligence or disregard for established procedures results in damage to essential infrastructure.
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