The governing People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) on Tuesday reminded of the inherited burdens of a mismanaged and bankrupt Guyana Power and Light (GPL) which came to be during the 2015 – 2020 period when the APNU+AFC Coalition was in government.
Under the direct management of the then Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson, the PPP/C said there were surreptitious operations that he “personally orchestrated” under the Power Producers and Distributors Inc. (PPDI), a local company created to “up-end the robust systems left in place by the PPP/C.”
“Again, we reiterate, that the rackets that were being run with the use of alternative spare parts by PPDI are largely responsible for the maintenance woes that have been contributing to constant blackouts that are disrupting the lives of ordinary Guyanese, while Patterson and the cabal that apparently benefitted from the largesse in unimaginable ways, now enjoy the comfort of expensive back-up power generators at their many homes,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister noted on Tuesday.
According to the release, the PPP/C government found GPL had receivables of approximately G$13 billion outstanding, which was owed by government ministries and agencies “causing a crippling effect on the company.”
Notwithstanding these concerns, the government assured citizens that it has been working tirelessly to restore the progressive outlook of GPL within a broader framework of cheaper and more sustainable energy production to improve the daily lives of citizens.
Already, the government said it has reinstated the uncompromising, robust maintenance regime at GPL, reverting to the above-board procurement practice for the use of original spares directly from the source and getting back to the well-established pre-2015 schedule of maintenance of transmission lines across the entire grid system.
In the medium term, significant increases in the generated power will be achieved in response to the demand with the internal introduction of nine additional sets, and a request for proposals (RFP) that can potentially see the external addition of 50 megawatts to be garnered through private supply.
Meanwhile, the 165 megawatts to be generated through the ground-breaking Amaila Falls Hydropower project will be back on stream shortly, while 300 megawatts of power from the Wales Gas-to-Shore project will be a game-changer for the country and its people.
“As Guyana begins to embrace a world-class development trajectory under the visionary leadership of President Irfaan Ali, the exponential growth of the country’s energy sector is being aggressively pursued in partnership with our neighbours Brazil and Suriname. Under a tripartite arrangement being ironed out, an energy arc will be created across the three frontiers, with a sustainable mix of power providing much needed energy security,” the statement added.
