New GPL generators shut down during peak hour in Region 2

The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast branch conducted a 24-hour test on the three new generators at the new power station in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam). Reports from the region are that at about midday on Wednesday, the three new generators were put into operation and were given the full work load to power the entire Essequibo Coast. All went well until about 18:30h when the entire Essequibo Coast was plunged into total darkness after the generators shut down. The management at the Anna Region sub-station was forced to restart the Caterpillar standby generators to power the region.
Guyana Times was told that engineers at the power station are trying to get the

new generators up and running but are at loss as to why the system tripped when given the peak hour load. The new generators’ installation are behind schedule since they were to be installed since mid-December of 2018. In the latter part of 2018, the Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Albert Gordon and a team from Georgetown visited the sub-station on the Essequibo Coast after residents in the region took to the streets to protest the poor service of the utility company. During that period, residents were experiencing daily power outages for prolong periods.
Essequibians, this newspaper was told, are now concerned about the capacity of the new generators to meet the power needs of the region.
Last year, the power company had said the region’s frequent service interruptions were as a result of the two main generators becoming inoperable, due to major mechanical and electrical issues respectively.
At a meeting with the regional administration, the business sector and residents last year GPL’s CEO has said that he is aware of the growing electricity demand in the region and will put a 20-year plan in place for the power company to meet the growing demand for electricity in Guyana. He had also promised to purchase a fourth generator for Region Two.