GPL issues warning after concrete pump dangled over high-voltage line on ECD

The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has raised safety concerns after a concrete pump from RZND Concrete and Delivery Company was observed dangerously positioned over a 69,000-volt transmission line at the La Bonne Intention, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Thursday.
This line, which connects GPL’s Sophia and Good Hope substations, is a critical link which supplies electricity to Regions Four and Five. GPL, in a release, warned that a single miscalculation could have caused a catastrophic system failure, potentially leaving tens of thousands of customers without power.
According to the company, the incident also poses significant risk to workers, nearby residents and surrounding property. GPL said that it has notified the Guyana Police Force (GPF), which detained representatives of the company, and the Ministry of Labour was also notified due to the breach of safety regulations.
Thursday’s incident is not an isolated case. In recent weeks, GPL has reported multiple instances where contractors damaged electricity infrastructure through unauthorised or unsafe operations.
In late December 2025, GPL initiated legal action against contractors after heavy equipment damaged network facilities in areas including Eccles, Grove, East Bank Demerara, and South Ruimveldt, Georgetown. Those incidents resulted in service disruptions to hundreds of customers and prompted Police reports and formal investigations.
GPL has repeatedly stated that many of these incidents stem from contractors failing to notify the utility before carrying out excavation or construction work near power lines and underground cables. The company has maintained that such actions undermine the stability of the national grid and place lives at risk.
In light of Thursday’s events, GPL is urging all contractors to follow all established safety protocols when working near electrical infrastructure. The utility advised contacting GPL at 226-2600 before commencing any work to avoid future accidents and disruptions. GPL emphasised that any party found committing any such reckless act will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.