GPL suspects sabotage after major transmission line trip

Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) said it is investigating what it believes may have been deliberate interference with a transmission line following a major disturbance to its electricity network on Friday morning.
According to a statement issued by GPL, the L2 Transmission Line, which runs parallel to the L4 Transmission Line between the Grove and Sophia substations, tripped at about 08:12h.
The incident resulted in a significant loss of supply to the national grid and widespread outages across GPL’s service area, GPL said, adding that the L2 line had been inspected on Thursday, less than 24 hours before the incident and was found to be free of faults and vegetation.
However, when the line tripped on Friday, the cause was recorded as an earth fault on the C-phase conductor, which GPL described as the lowest of the three conductors and closest to the ground.
Following the trip, GPL said its technical teams conducted extensive inspections of the transmission line but found no fault, vegetation or physical condition that could account for the incident.
The company said the findings had raised concerns about possible deliberate interference.
“A line that is clean one day does not fail on its most accessible conductor the next without cause,” GPL said, adding that the circumstances point to deliberate interference.
GPL said it strongly suspects that the disturbance was caused by interference with critical electricity infrastructure.
The company condemned any attempt to interfere with or sabotage the national electricity network, warning that such acts could endanger lives and disrupt homes, businesses, hospitals and other essential services.
GPL said it is pursuing a full investigation and will hand over any evidence of unlawful activity to the relevant authorities.
The company also announced that it is increasing surveillance and protection of its transmission assets.
GPL urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity observed near its transmission lines, towers or substations to the company or the nearest police station.