Several communities are set to benefit from improved electricity distribution with the construction of new substations and the expansion of existing ones.
Acting GPL CEO Renford Homer
Plans are moving apace to construct new substations in Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara; Kuru-Kuru on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway; and Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice.
According to acting Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Incorporated Renford Homer, “This will bring relief to residents from those communities who for years awaited proper electricity distribution.”
Homer made this disclosure during an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), where he revealed that the substations at Kingston and Sophia, Georgetown; Columbia and Good Hoop, East Coast Demerara; Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara; and Number 53 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, will also be expanded to improve service to residents in those communities.
GPL is currently awaiting Cabinet’s approval for the construction of the substations which are expected to commence early in 2017.
“Towards the end of 2017, one or two of those substations should be constructed, in conjunction with the line hardware that is required. We are assiduously working to move forward,” Homer explained.
The construction of substations can run for a minimum period of one year and the company has already started the process, with tenders already out for bidding.
Tenders are open for the expansion of the current substations. “We’re just short of a couple of days of seeing the tenders close, and we have to go through that process of evaluation and have the contract awarded by December,” the acting CEO said.
These substations will assist the power company in improving the level of services offered, Homer said. “We are shortening the lengths of the conductors that feed the various areas, it makes isolation and management easier and it also helps in the reduction of losses,” Homer explained.
GPL has engaged consultants who are knowledgeable in transmission designs, to provide assistance and advice in this regard.
Earlier this year, GPL had disclosed that it planned to upgrade, extend and build substations to improve the overall distribution of electricity countrywide. A total of $543 million has been allocated in the 2016 Budget for the development of substations.
