US$700M required for major projects aimed at boosting GPL’s efficiency – agency tells Pres Ali

Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will require an estimated US$700 million investment to modernise its transmission and distribution network, according to plans presented to President Ali during a recent review of the utility’s operations. The funding is expected to support a suite of major projects designed to strengthen efficiency, reliability, and resilience within the electricity sector.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the Office of the President, President Ali said the bulk of the proposed investment will target the building and upgrading of substations in Georgetown, Garden of Eden, Kingston, Onverwagt, Edinburgh, Good Hope, and Columbia. This component alone is projected to cost more than US$400 million. An additional US$300 million will be allocated to modernise GPL’s distribution equipment, with the aim of enabling greater automation, reducing line losses, and enhancing service reliability. US$700M required for major projects aimed at boosting GPL’s efficiency – agency tells President Ali
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) will require an estimated US$700 million investment to modernise its transmission and distribution network, according to plans presented to President Ali during a recent review of the utility’s operations. The funding is expected to support a suite of major projects designed to strengthen efficiency, reliability, and resilience within the electricity sector.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday at the Office of the President, President Ali said the bulk of the proposed investment will target the building and upgrading of substations in Georgetown, Garden of Eden, Kingston, Onverwagt, Edinburgh, Good Hope, and Columbia. This component alone is projected to cost more than US$400 million. An additional US$300 million will be allocated to modernise GPL’s distribution equipment, with the aim of enabling greater automation, reducing line losses, and enhancing service reliability.
“All of this is not only to enhance quality but also to reduce line losses, to reduce leakages in the system, and to enhance efficiency and reliability of the system itself. GPL is also in the process of finalising arrangements. As you know, to implement all of this project, given the current supervision costs that we pay consultants, from their estimation, it’s over 40 million US dollars to implement this entire programme,” the President revealed.
One of the most pressing concerns that was highlighted is the submarine cable crossing the Demerara River between Vreed-en-Hoop and Kingston. With heavy marine traffic and the draught of the river posing risks, GPL has been tasked with ensuring that the cable is both protected and installed at a sufficient depth to prevent disruption.
The company’s modernisation agenda also includes the rollout of smart grid infrastructure, such as smart meters for all customers, smart switches, automated reclosers, and fault indicators. These improvements will not only reduce leakages in the system but also provide real-time monitoring and faster response to outages.
President Ali further pointed to the planned integration of Linden into the Demerara–Berbice Interconnected System. This includes the construction of substations at Bamia, Mackenzie, and Wismar, as well as transmission upgrades along the Linden–Soesdyke Highway. The establishment of a National Control Centre and advanced metering infrastructure are also central to GPL’s efficiency drive.
“From the news, you would have seen the Prime Minister visiting the advanced metering infrastructure, the National Control Centre, and the interconnection with Linden, and that is the expanded expansion of the network. The interconnect with Linden, with the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System, and also the construction of distribution substations at Bamia, Mackenzie, and Wismar in Linden. Of course, you know the development of the Linden–Soesdyke Highway also requires investment, and we are now investing. GPL is now finalising the plan for the investment in the transmission and distribution network across the Linden–Soesdyke Highway. The smart equipment rollout, installation of the smart meters for all customers, smart switches, automated reclosers, and fault indicators,” Ali said.
To ensure effective execution, GPL is negotiating with InterEnergy to provide technical advisory support and project supervision. The arrangement is expected to cost US$15 million over two years – significantly less than the US$40 million typically spent on consultancy and oversight services. The partnership will also involve capacity building, contract management, and integration of advanced technologies.
“These investments will bring Guyana’s electricity infrastructure to international standards, improve energy security, and enable cost-effective integration of renewables,” President Ali said. “As we expand our industrial base and pursue new opportunities in manufacturing, technology, and data centres, it is clear that we must ramp up generation capacity.”
He underscored the Government’s commitment to accelerating plans for a second power plant and a new gas-to-energy project in Berbice, noting that energy expansion is critical if Guyana is to establish itself as the “energy capital of the region”, attracting investors, creating jobs, and driving broad-based economic growth.