Preparatory work to accommodate power ship at Everton behind schedule

Preparatory work at Everton, East Bank Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to accommodate the power ship is behind schedule, with May 8 being the new date set to commence operation.
Initially, it was reported that the ship was expected in Guyana on May 1, and would get into operation, since by then the preliminary work would have already been completed.
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Berbice Zone Manager Ravindra Jagnanand on Tuesday related that one of the biggest challenges was the clearing of vegetation. He nevertheless stated that works are progressing to facilitate the power ship.
“We have to build a network to connect the power barge to our network…we have to construct a new transmission line to connect, and for us to dispatch from the ship to our grid,” he explained.
According to Jagnandan, the intention is to tap into an existing transmission line which would enable GPL to access power at different load centres in Berbice and Demerara. The main objective is to minimise outages as a result of generation shortfall.
“What we are experiencing currently is a lot of load shedding, being done because there is a deficit between our generating capacity and our demand. So, having this boost in out generating capacity will significantly reduce forced outages, or what we call load shedding,” he explained.
“Our team is working assiduously to finish this project and to conclude the network construction and maintenance on the line as quickly as possible,” he added.
However, according to reports, the vessel is yet to arrive in Guyana.
The utility company has been experiencing generation shortfalls due to an unprecedented rise in electricity demand. The situation has led the company to procure a power ship to boost the generation capacity of the GPL within the Demerara-Berbice Interconnecting Grid (DBIS). The local power company is expected to be able to access 36 megawatts of electricity from the ship. Everton on the East Bank of Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), is considered the most suitable location for the ship.
GPL has signed a multi-million-dollar deal with Qatar-based Urbacon Concessions Investments W.L.L (UCI) for the rental of the floating power plant for two years in a move to add much-needed generating capacity to the grid.