In response to the ongoing power instability across Guyana, the government has announced plans to purchase emergency power to support the state-run electricity company, Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL). Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo revealed this strategy during his press conference yesterday as he said plans are moving ahead to purchase 36MW from Karpowership, a Turkish conglomerate.
Dr. Jagdeo disclosed that a ministerial group, comprising himself along with Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, Minister of Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, and Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar, has been tasked with devising a plan to procure emergency power. The aim is to alleviate the current power woes until the completion of the flagship gas to energy project, expected within the next two years.
“We intend to contract this for two years until the gas to energy project is completed,” the Vice President noted. “So, we’re hoping that within a matter of weeks, we’re hoping to bring this to normalcy and then have extra power to address any failure of equipment like we have experienced recently.”
Last December, the government purchased 17 generator sets, amounting to US$27 million, aimed at enhancing power generation during the Christmas holiday period. However, delays in shipment and technical issues have hindered their installation. He revealed that GPL is currently working to resolve these issues, with hopes that all sets will be operational by the weekend.
Meanwhile, the parliamentary opposition has voiced concerns over the blackout crisis and other pressing issues during a meeting of the Opposition-led Economic Services Committee. The committee summoned the Minister and Senior Members of the Ministry of Public Works to address these concerns.
Opposition members expressed dissatisfaction with the recent blackout crisis, labeling it as a matter of urgent public importance. They called for government officials responsible for policy and administration of GPL to appear before the committee to address these issues comprehensively.
Despite efforts, by the Economic Services Committee to fulfill its mandate, including proposing field visits to key economic projects, the opposition is claiming its work has been hindered by government and parliamentary authorities. The committee’s request to include the oil and gas sctor in its scrutiny has been blocked.
The Economic Services Committee, chaired by the opposition, remains the only active sectoral committee in Parliament, holding fourteen meetings over the past year.
