Blackout schedule spread evenly - says GPL
-relief in sight with fuel shipment
Stabroek News
March 26, 2003
Despite some areas getting two six-hour blackout sessions within 24 hours, the power rationing is being spread evenly, says Guyana Power and Light (GPL).
These unscheduled outages are as a result of efforts to limit certain areas to just one six-hour blackout a day, through a rotation of the outages among the various districts, GPL's Chief Executive Officer John Lynn told Stabroek News yesterday.
Consumers in some areas have been affected by as much as two six-hour outages on certain days and Lynn explained that while this may occur, the consumers in these areas may not experience any outages on other days, so that over a period of a few days everyone would have been evenly affected.
He, however, affirmed that GPL would try to limit this occurrence.
Meanwhile Lynn also disclosed that following the government's payment of approximately $150M on their outstanding arrears GPL has ordered a full consignment of fuel which is expected to arrive by either Friday or Saturday.
He said this order, was purchased at the lower world market prices of approximately US$26 per barrel for heavy fuel and $35 per barrel for diesel. It was expected to last for a period of 10-11 days. And given no unforeseen obstacles, Lynn estimated that the scheduled outages could either be significantly reduced or discontinued by Saturday upon delivery of the fuel.
As for what will happen after the expiration of this order, he said he could not venture an answer.
