GPL’s interconnected system shuts down again

The Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), which is operated by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) on Friday reported yet another shutdown, causing power outages in several communities.
The utility company announced shortly after that the system was indeed nonfunctional and promised that the situation will be rectified.
On Wednesday, a burnt primary conductor on the L23 transmission line caused disruptions along Canefield to Auchlyne in Berbice. The interruption was necessary to connect the transmission line to the Skeldon generation facility.
Meanwhile, two weeks ago, the DBIS recorded a shutdown due to a fault in one of the circuit breakers at the Garden of Eden Power Plant. This caused a “lock out” of the busbar, facilitating the transfer of power from four generators. According to GPL, the “sudden” loss of 18 megawatts of generator capacity resulted in the shutdown.
GPL’s poor services have come under criticism many times, primarily by the general populace. Residents on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), were faced with constant power outages in April, just one day after the commissioning of a $1.8 billion power plant at Anna Regina.
Just a few months ago, a loan was granted from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to the tune of US$20 million, to be provided to the Guyana Power Light (GPL) for upgrading the services.
The loan was expected to facilitate the rehabilitation of 153km of GPL’s medium voltage and low voltage network and 6941 smart meters, including the associated transformers, service lines and distribution boxes along with the rehabilitation and extension of two 69/13.8KV substations at Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop.