There could be a management shakeup at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc. should the power company fail to ease the electricity woes experienced by Guyanese, President Dr. Irfaan Ali said Friday.
In clear terms, the President said those responsible for the country’s main electricity body will be held accountable for continued shortcomings.
“If we don’t see with these investments, marked improvements by the end of the first quarter, by the end of January (when) we’ll start looking for the type of improvements that we will expect out of GPL, then heads will roll,” President Ali said sternly.
In a yearend interview with five women journalists, the President opened up about the challenges the power company grapples with.
According to him, the company, and the main power grid it runs (the Demerara- Berbice Interconnected System), did not have enough investments from 2015 to 2020 while the former APNU+AFC government was in office. So, with demand outstripping supply, the President said his government has the herculean task of rapidly investing in GPL’s expansion.
There has been a need to invest in new generators locally as the power demand grows. The government sourced additional power from two power ships, so that excess demand can be met.
‘I will read the riot act’ – President says GPL management must be more responsive
Investments are being made to update the old transmission and distribution network.
The President assured citizens that the government is working to remedy the situation.
“I understand the frustration. We’re investing to make it better and we will hold accountable the persons who ought to ensure the system works and works better,” President Ali said.
Beyond current capacity, a major natural gas power project is under development. That should provide an additional 300 megawatts (MW) of power to Guyana- an amount nearly equivalent to what currently exists.
The government also hopes to greenlight a mega hydropower project once again.
