Latest update November 14th, 2026 10:30 AM
Latest News
- Guyana 5th oil project to start up next week
- Guyana’s ‘failed’ immigration policies exposed country to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang — Campbell
- WIN MP Natasha Singh arrested, questioned over alleged firebombing of GPL substation
- Guyana’s Nitya Narine, Toreka Persaud top Caribbean at CSEC, CAPE
- Single mother, five children left homeless after West Coast Berbice fire
Power woes
(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s electricity crisis is becoming increasingly difficult for the government to explain away. With peak demand reaching 269 megawatts (MW) and operating generating capacity hovering around 260 MW, the country is already struggling to meet its electricity needs. Now, with Christmas approaching, the government is scrambling to secure another 20 MW after a third powership it was pursuing was rented to neighbouring Venezuela.
This is more than an unfortunate setback. It exposes serious weaknesses in the planning and management of a critical national service. A country boasting rapid economic expansion, increased commercial activity and growing investments cannot afford to have its electricity supply perpetually playing catch-up with demand.
Public Utilities Minister Deodat Indar’s admission that there is no readily available generating capacity locally or regionally to meet the shortfall should concern every Guyanese. His disclosure that the government is actively negotiating with a company to secure 20 MW for the Christmas season offers little reassurance, particularly since he could not say when that additional power would become available.
The situation raises an obvious question: why is a country experiencing unprecedented economic growth still scrambling at the eleventh hour to find electricity to satisfy its needs? Surely, the government should have anticipated the increased demand and made the necessary arrangements to ensure adequate generating reserves.
More troubling is the continuing delay in the much-publicised Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project at Wales, West Bank Demerara. This project was presented as a major solution to Guyana’s longstanding electricity problems. It was supposed to provide an additional 300 MW of generating capacity, reduce electricity costs and help bring an end to the persistent blackouts that have frustrated households and businesses for years.
Yet, the country is still waiting for the project to deliver electricity. Originally scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, the project has suffered delays, cost increases and contractual complications. Government has now approved more than US$100 million in additional financing for contractor Lindsayca, while the latest commitment is for the first 57 MW turbine to be delivered by December 2026.
This raises serious questions about project management, accountability and the financial burden being placed on taxpayers. Guyanese were promised a transformative energy solution, but instead they continue to endure power interruptions while the government spends heavily to keep the existing system supplied through rented powerships and imported heavy fuel oil.
The irony is difficult to ignore. A country with significant natural gas resources is struggling to secure enough electricity to meet domestic demand. The Gas-to-Energy project was supposed to change this reality. Its continued delay means consumers remain exposed to the very problems it was intended to address.
Even when additional generating capacity comes on stream, however, another problem requires urgent attention. Minister Indar has acknowledged that GPL’s distribution feeders are overloaded, resulting in blackouts and burnt transformers. Increased household connections, supermarkets, businesses and street lighting have placed additional pressure on infrastructure that is already being tested beyond its thermal limits.
This admission is particularly significant. It means the electricity challenge is not simply about generating more power; it is also about having the transmission and distribution infrastructure capable of delivering that power reliably to consumers.
Government must therefore stop treating electricity shortages as seasonal emergencies requiring temporary solutions. Planning must be based on projected demand, adequate reserve capacity and the timely expansion and maintenance of the national grid.
Guyanese should not have to enter every Christmas wondering whether the lights will remain on.
Share this:
Discover more from Kaieteur News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Similar Articles
Website Hits
Blunt of the day
Sports
Features/Columnists
Sir. Ronald Sanders
The GHK Lall Column
Weekend Cartoon
