The commissioning of Guyana’s Gas-to-Energy project is a year away – too for consumers as skyrocketing demand is contributing to chronic power instability. Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali convened an urgent meeting with the Board of Directors and management of Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL), the Power Producers and Distributors Incorporated (PPDI), and Wärtsilä on April 2 to address concerns regarding the country’s power infrastructure.
Issues such as exponential demand growth, aging assets, and transmission inadequacies were extensively discussed during the session, according to a post from the Office of the President on Facebook.
The government has already engaged U.K. Export Finance (UKEF) to explore financing options to address the problems.
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Ali urged the utility companies to explore alternative energy options to bridge the gap until the completion of the gas-fired power plant. Government anticipates a total surge in demand of approximately 30 megawatts (MW) this year.
Guyana has been grappling with frequent outages. While the Gas-to-Energy project and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project hold promise for augmenting the power supply, the government faces pressure to address current woes in the interim. Last year, GPL had to invest in increased capacity after demand reached record highs. But even that does not appear to be enough for now. Factors contributing to this surge include increased usage of air conditioning units and fans, driven by rising temperatures, and a booming construction and hospitality sector.
