The Board of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has given its approval to purchase power from the Giftland Mall. This is according to a statement issued by the company which states that “in furtherance of its consideration, the Board has authorized GPL to move forward efforts to finalise a Power Providing Agreement (PPA) with the MCG Investments Inc (Giftland Mall).”
A move in this direction has been necessitated by the needs and interests of the company, GPL said.
This publication has learnt too that the Board has instructed GPL to ensure all of the legal and regulatory modalities are satisfied.
This development comes even as GPL battles to combat a massive shortfall of power affecting customers in the Demerara, Berbice areas.
In a missive seen by the Guyana Standards today, owner of Giftland Mall, Roy Beepat, assured that he is still willing to lend support.
Beepat said that “Once again I write to advise the Minister and his Board at GPL that we at Giftland Mall are ready to help ease the present power predicament.”
In justifying why GPL should take advantage of his offer, the Giftland Boss said that “It just requires very minor technical connection to place our Power Plant on the Grid, the poles are already laid.”
Added to this, he explained, “Our cost are below their diesel plants and the present perfect storm of issues to hit the corporation shows the need to alternate supply to help ease the load.”
Beepat is therefore convinced that once GPL makes the bold and smart move to buy the available excess power Giftland has to offer it will undoubtedly “alleviate suffering of thousands of households at no extra cost to anyone.”
“We cannot alleviate all the problems but we can certainly help and are on standby for the word to have this done,” Beepat has said
According to him, GPL can immediately have access to a dedicated 3MW and be readily supplied 4.5MW.
Meanwhile, the power company is also looking to other possible suppliers of electricity. Towards this end, GPL’s Board has authorised the invitation of Expressions of Interest from other potential power providers with immediate available generation capacity who may be interested in supplying electricity too.
