2 men caught on camera throwing firebomb into GPL’s substation

Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has condemned what it described as a deliberate act of sabotage at its Good Hope Distribution Substation on the East Coast Demerara, after two individuals were captured on CCTV throwing an improvised firebomb into the facility on Tuesday night.

The incident occurred at approximately 22:45h on Tuesday and is being investigated by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as an alleged arson attempt.
In a statement on Wednesday, GPL said CCTV footage captured two individuals at the substation at approximately 22:46h, with one of them throwing a Molotov cocktail into the 69 kilo-Volt energised switchyard.
The company said the matter was immediately reported to the Police, adding that the attack could have caused extensive damage to critical electricity infrastructure and placed employees and residents in nearby communities at risk.
GPL warned that had the firebomb ignited equipment within the substation, it could have triggered fires or explosions involving transformer oil, cables and switchgear.
The company further stated that a successful attack could have resulted in a total shutdown of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), affecting more than 220,000 customers.
It estimated that extensive damage to the Good Hope facility could have required at least 12 months of reconstruction, with costs running into billions of dollars.
However, GPL said there were no line or feeder trips and the electricity supply was not interrupted.
Engineers inspected the facility overnight and confirmed that no major equipment had been damaged. Further investigations are ongoing.

Glass bottles with flammable substance
Meanwhile, the GPF, in a separate statement on Wednesday, said a 49-year-old GPL operator was alerted by security guards to a fire in the vicinity of the facility’s main transmission line.
The operator subsequently conducted checks and observed a fire near the transmission line, which reportedly lasted about three minutes.
During investigations on Wednesday, Police discovered four glass bottles containing a liquid suspected to be kerosene, with pieces of cloth attached, in the vicinity of the transmission line.
A black lighter, a saw frame and several pieces of broken glass bottles were also found in the area.

Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Act
GPL has called on the Police to investigate the incident under the Anti-Terrorism and Terrorist Related Activities Act 2015, arguing that the attack falls within the Act’s description of a terrorist act because of the potential threat to life, property, public safety and essential infrastructure.
The company also called for the relevant provisions of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01, dealing with arson, malicious damage and conspiracy, to be considered.
GPL said it had handed over CCTV footage to investigators and increased security and patrols at all substations and power plants across the national grid.
It warned that anyone who damages or attempts to damage its facilities, or assists others in doing so, would face prosecution under Guyana’s laws. The company also said it would pursue civil recovery of any losses incurred.