GOVERNMENT WORKING TO RESTORE UTILITY SERVICES IN LINDEN

GOVERNMENT WORKING TO RESTORE UTILITY SERVICES IN LINDEN

Guyana Chronicle
April 12, 2003

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The privately owned Linden Power Company for the past several years has been experiencing problems with its steam power generating plant. Government has subsidised the PRIVATELY OWNED LPC with over G$1 billion to help meet the actual cost of supplying electricity to the residents. On March 30th, 2003 it completely broke down, causing a disruption to the water supply. Since the collapse of the power company, Government has been providing relief to ensure that normalcy is returned to Linden.
WHAT GOVERNMENT HAS DONE TO HELP:
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY:

* On March 30, 2003, the boiler feed pump of the privately owned Linden Power Company failed, and was projected to be back in operation in a few days. The feed pump returned to service on Wednesday April 2, but failed after working for merely 12 hours. Three 2.5 MW diesel sets were malfunctioning. The one that was in service on Saturday, April 5, failed at 10 a.m. Another one was expected to be back in service, but it failed soon after it was started up.

* On Saturday, April 5, 2003 President Jagdeo ordered that two .25 MW portable units be loaned to the PRIVATELY OWNED LPC from GPL. These arrived in Linden at 11 p.m. on Saturday April 5, and currently one is in operation and the other is being repaired by LINMINE to help supply water to the residents.

* The President further ordered that a power generating set be relocated from Aroaima to Ituni to bring relief to the residents in that area.

* The President ordered that two 1.25 megawatts generating sets be leased from MACORP. These generating sets were to leave the USA for Guyana on Friday, April 11, 2003.

* The President in a meeting with the OMAI mining company was told that the company will accelerate the design and construction of a new nine megawatt power station in Linden. This is expected to be completed by the end of July and is part of the Company's long-term investment within LINMINE.

WATER:
* The President has instructed Minister of Housing and Water, Shaik Baksh, to have a newly acquired stand by generator from Georgetown released to supply power to a number of water treatment plants in Linden.

* As part of Government's emergency response, Guyana Water Inc. has been using bowsers and other types of water tanks to provide all areas in Linden. As an additional measure, the Region Ten Administration, with the assistance of Central Government, contracted private trucks to deliver water to various locations in Linden.

On Monday April 7, 2003 President Jagdeo announced his intentions of visiting Linden to assess the situation. On Thursday April 10, 2003 Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and a team of government officials visited the mining town. On April 11, 2003 President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the area.

Government continues to monitor the situation closely so as to bring early relief to all residents, and seeks the cooperation of all Lindeners in this effort.
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY April 11, 2003