Latest update September 17th, 2026 10:25 AM
Colombia 69kV substation 70% complete — GPL
…US$156.5M project to strengthen power transmission to Onverwagt
(Kaieteur News) – The new 69kV substation being constructed at Colombia, East Bank Demerara, is approximately 60 to 70 per cent complete, according to team lead of Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), Kesh Nandlall.
Nandlall made the disclosure during a site visit on Tuesday, noting that the US$156.5 million project awarded to Kalpataru Projects International Limited (KPIL) is progressing with major civil works and equipment preparations underway.
In a brief video statement, Nandlall explained that the project involves the expansion and modernisation of the existing Colombia facility, which already has a power plant, to facilitate the more efficient and reliable transmission of electricity along the 69kV line to the Onverwagt substation.
Workers at the construction site back in June
He said the project also includes the installation of new lines and feeders, which are expected to improve the reliability of electricity supplied to communities in the surrounding areas.
“All the materials have been ordered. As you can see, most of the foundation work are completed. All the piles they’re tying in, the pile driving and so on. So, it’s about 60 to 70%. The materials have been shipped. We have already done factory acceptance testing, and they are on the way here to be assembled to extend the substation,” Nandlall said.
This publication reported on June 26 that GPL had commenced construction of the new substation, following a groundbreaking ceremony on June 20, 2026, led by KPIL.
The Colombia facility forms part of Lot 2 of GPL’s Project 053, aimed at strengthening voltage stability and distribution reliability within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS).
The project is also expected to increase transmission capacity and accommodate growing electricity demand in areas connected to the DBIS.
The ongoing works include pile driving, foundation construction, equipment installation and eventual electrical integration into the national grid. GPL has said it is working with KPIL to ensure the project meets approved technical specifications, international standards, and environmental and safety requirements.
The existing Colombia facility is equipped with 17 containerised generators and six step-up transformers, with a reported generating capacity of approximately 30 megawatts.
The new substation will complement the existing infrastructure and strengthen the transmission network as electricity demand continues to increase.
The Colombia project forms part of a wider upgrade of Guyana’s electricity transmission infrastructure. In April 2025, GPL signed contracts valued at approximately US$422 million with PowerChina and KPIL for the extension of transmission lines along the eastern corridor of the DBIS.
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