GPL commissions largest power plant; Region 3 to become self sufficient
By Tracey Khan – Drakes
The GPL Power Plant. [iNews’ Photo]
At the ceremony, President Donald Ramotar boasted of this large investment that will now ensure GPL is above its peak demand nationally.
The power company ran a transmission cable through the Demerara River that connects the Vreed –en-Hoop plant to its Kingston, Georgetown plant, creating another interconnected system.
“Let’s say something goes down in Berbice and you want send electricity from Demerara to Berbice, it use to take four, five hours before you could do that, now it takes about 10 minutes and it is because of the interconnected system and it’s because of the transmission line,” the President explained.
He explained that both commercial and technical losses will be reduced with this investment which will “expand the grid and expand many of the villages and areas not previously powdered from the grid, I know that we have come a very far way in this regard but there are still some people who seems to be left back.”
President Donald Ramotar along with GPL officials and others tour the facility. [iNews’ Photo]
Government has been able to identify another contractor for this project following the pulling out of Black Stone and Site Global as a result of the continued political impasse with the Opposition.
Meanwhile, the Power Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Bharrat Dindyal said this modern infrastructure will see significant improvement in the delivery of electricity to residents of Region Three. He added that the new plant allows the West Demerara area to be self-sufficient.