Demerara, Berbice power grid now interconnected-GPL

GPLGeorgetown:  The Guyana Power Light (GPL) announced that it has finally completed works to connect Berbice and Demerara. In effect, the cable across the Berbice River, will serve to stabilize power in the Region Five and Six area in Berbice, solving a long-standing problem. It is an historic occasion for Guyana. According to the power company, the transmission link was completed 21:33hrs, forming what will be known as the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System.

“This milestone has been decades in the making and has been finally achieved after many technical challenges were overcome. This development would allow GPL to transfer power from generating facilities in Demerara to consumers throughout Berbice, thereby improving the stability and reliability of power supply in Regions 5 and 6.”

With the new link in place, GPL will over the coming weeks be further fine-tuning the system to optimize performance and power quality.

“Some of these activities may result in short power interruptions. We will endeavor to inform you in advance of any such outages. Overall available generation capacity in Demerara and Berbice is now 100.6MW and the peak demand is 95MW.”

According to GPL, efforts are being made to repair some 6MW generating capacity within the next two weeks while a 5.5MW Wartsila currently on overhaul is expected back in service by July 4th.

The works for the link would have involved the Chinese contractor, China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC), along with sub-contractors and GPL’s personnel from its Projects and Operations Divisions.

“Special mention should be made of the diligence and dedication of our Transmission and Distribution (T&D) and System Control and Engineering Services who braved adverse weather on Sunday to complete all the rearrangements on the transmission lines and distribution feeders.”

Government is currently working on a US$40M-plus project to run new transmission stretching along the coast to Berbice. Seven new sub-stations are also being built to help better manage the power and isolate problems.