Powership: GPL considers new substation at Everton to work around any potential failure

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) is preparing an area at Everton, Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), for the arrival of the 36-megawatt (MW) powership that will supply extra power to the national grid. 

While preparatory works, including the installation of the necessary transmission lines, are ongoing, GPL’s Divisional Director for Engineering Services Ryan Ross said the power company is considering the construction of a new substation at Everton. 

 “We are also examining the possibility of having a substation installed in this location to give us the kind of flexibility that will allow for a continuous interconnection even if a section of the transmission line is faulted,” Ross said during a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI). 

The barge recently left Cuba and should be operational in Guyana by May 8. Ross said the site should be fully prepared by May 1. 

“All preparations are being made to ensure that we have the interconnection facilities in place by May 1 to accommodate the barge,” he said. 

GPL has already paid a mobilisation fee of US$1 million to rent the powership and it will pay 6.62 cents per kilowatt hour as a monthly charter fee plus 0.98 cents per kilowatt hour on maintenance, based on electricity generated.

The deal to rent the powership was signed on April 13 with Urbacon Concessions Investments, W.L.L (UCI) to rent the power ship for two years.

In a press release last week, GPL revealed the ship, with a capacity of 36MW, will be operated and maintained by UCI, a subsidiary of UCC Holdings based in Qatar, in collaboration with Karpowership International from Turkey.

Guyana’s Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said there will be no increase in the cost of electricity for consumers even though the services of the powership are being procured to supply emergency power.