PPDI not to blame for spate of blackouts – CEO, Chairman

… stakeholders were having monthly meetings to address issue

By Jarryl Bryan

Power Producers and Distribution Incorporated (PPDI), the company which now manages the Wartsila engines, is adamant that it has been fulfilling its responsibility in regard to power generation, and is in no way responsible for the spate of blackouts that have occurred at regular intervals throughout the country.
Officials of the PPDI’s Kingston and Vreed-en-Hoop facilities were on Thursday probed about the reason for the spate of blackouts, and PPDI Chief Executive Officer Arron Fraser said there has been no engine failure that would have affected PPDI power generation, and by extension Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s).
“The engines are actually more available this year than they were last year. There haven’t been any incidents with engine failure,” he said, adding that questions regarding failures in GPL’s distribution network would be for the GPL to answer.
Fraser acknowledged that both companies have a shared overall responsibility for ensuring a stable supply of electricity is provided consumers. In recognition of this responsibility, Chairman of the PPDI Board of Directors, Mark Bender, noted that technical experts from both sides have been meeting to iron out solutions.
“We don’t want to get into GPL’s domain. The two companies are joined at the hip. It’s one operation, but separate. We, just like GPL, have the same objective — to ensure a stable and reliable supply of electricity to the consumers,” he explained.
“GPL has certain responsibilities, we have certain responsibilities, but there is constant interaction between the two companies: there is a monthly joint operation meeting, there are constant discussions between the technicians…”

Causes
As it happens, one of the Wartsila engines is down, in order to be overhauled and have maintenance work done. In addition, an important component from another engine has been sent overseas to Miami, Florida because it needs repairs that are beyond local capabilities. Enquiries were made about the reasons why engines fail, and acting Deputy CEO (technical) Ravindra Parmanand, said a number of factors could precipitate engine failure, including fluctuations in the current.
“There are many factors that cause a generator to trip. The generators are equipped with high-frequency relays, so if there is a disturbance outside, a high or low frequency or current, it would trip it to protect the engines from failure,” the deputy CEO said, adding that line problems could also be a contributing factor.
It was learnt that the Kingston plant has the capacity to produce 36.1 megawatts of power, but currently 12 of those megawatts are out because of maintenance work. In spite of these challenges, however, Fraser has said there is a surplus of energy in the system.
“Right now at this (Kingston) plant we have three engines that are operational, (but) there is some spare capacity in the system. So (with) the two engines that are out, we are barely meeting the demands,” Fraser related.
Service disruptions have continued to raise the ire of customers. It is understood that as at March 2017, there have been 29 complaints from GPL customers at the level of the Public Utility Commission (PUC). GPL therefore comes in second on the list of complaints, behind only Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT). Last month, frustrated businessmen from Region Two met with staff from GPL at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), where they vented their anger at the constant and prolonged power outages on the Essequibo Coast.
With the northern side of the Essequibo Coast hardest hit, the businessmen pointed to the plight of residents in Charity, who have suffered in the dark for days.
Essequibo Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) Chairman Deleep Singh has noted that a number of businesses have suffered tremendous losses directly resulting from the blackouts.
It has been questioned whether GPL would compensate Essequibians for their suffering and loss in regard to the prolonged spate of blackout.
GPL Acting CEO Renford Homer has blamed some of the disruptions on the shutdown of the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System. Homer also explained that the machines at Skeldon and Garden of Eden were being overhauled, whilst the one at Kingston was undergoing routine maintenance.
At a year-end press conference, Homer had announced that some $3 billion would be spent by the company towards the construction of four new substations. He had stated that this formed part of the $6.6 billion that had been set aside for works to improve service delivery of the company; $3 billion for the new substations, and $1.4 billion for renovation works to existing substations.
According to Homer, these works are expected to be completed by 2018.