Electricity has yet to be restored to the roughly 500 households and businesses in Lethem and the neighbouring communities which are served by the plant, and power may not be restored until next week when repairs are expected to be completed on an emergency generator which failed.

The shutdown occurred on Monday following a landslide on the Moco Moco Mountain, which was caused by heavy rainfall. As a result of the damage done to the pipeline, water has not been able to reach the plant’s turbines located at the bottom of the mountain.

The situation was brought up in Parliament yesterday as a matter of urgent public importance, where it was declared “a national disaster,” by Minister of Local Government Harripersaud Nokta.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Phillip Hamilton, told Stabroek News yesterday that the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) team, tasked with assessing the damage, was still evaluating the situation and was yet to provide a formal status report to the ministry. The team, which is headed by GEA Chief Executive Officer Joseph O’Lall, and includes Li Young Shan, one of the Chinese engineers involved in the plant’s construction, comprises technical personnel who will also make recommendations on costs for remedial work as well as setting out a time frame for reactivation of the plant.

Prime Minister Sam Hinds said yesterday that two technicians from MACORP also travelled to Lethem to assist with repairs to the generator, as were surveyors, who are expected to complete their survey work in five days. These surveys are necessary for the laying of groundwork for the restoration of power.

According to an initial report submitted to the Local Government Ministry by Region Nine’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Deolall Rooplall, the damage done by the slide centred on an area just below the second Anchor Block from the forebay, where there is an opening approximately six feet wide, twelve feet in depth, and spreading across an area thirty feet on each side of the opening. His report said four sections of the 1,377-metre long low pressure water transmission pipeline had been thrown off its bases and bent. Smaller slides have caused the steps and concrete bases to be uprooted, while 80% of the 975 steps leading to the falls are damaged and have been deemed unsafe.

Stabroek News understands that the area most affected by the landslide lies approximately 275 metres from the summit or 344 metres from the foot of the mountain.

Owing to the instability of the mountain, where rocks and soil continue to fall, workers were removed from the site, which, according to an informed source, still remains extremely dangerous.

Given the extent of the damage done by the landslides, the source estimated that it would take some time between “six months to a year” for reactivation of the plant. The source however added that reactivation would not mean complete 24-hour service for residents who may also have to pay more for generation.

Meanwhile, work continued yesterday on the emergency generator stationed at Lethem, which was still beset by technical problems.

The 375 KVA diesel generator, which was supposed to be a back up for such times, developed minor electrical problems and parts have been ordered for repairs to be done. A courier has already been dispatched to Brazil for parts and is expected to return by midday today, while MACORP is expected to have other parts delivered by today also. Work is projected to be completed by Sunday, one source said, adding that this schedule was still tentative.

The areas served by the plant, Lethem, St Ignatius, Culvert City, Tabatinga, Moco Moco village and the Moco Moco settlement, have been without electricity since Monday and residents and businesses are said to have adjusted to the situation, resorting to “back to basics,” according to one resident. Generators used before the hydropower plant are being dragged out. “They have had to readjust, some people are using generators, especially businesses, some are using gas fridges,” the resident said.

Their reaction was described as calm, and was attributed to the fact that they have been kept well informed of the situation and the measures being undertaken to ensure the restoration of power.

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The water and communication systems in the areas, which are powered by generators, have been unaffected by the damage.

Guyana Action Party (GAP) MP, Shirley Melville suggested yesterday in the National Assembly the option of generator sets being made available in the interim, or even a proposal to purchase power from the Brazilian grid. She noted that businesses at Lethem were concerned that the temporary measures would not have the capacity to meet all the needs of the community and urged the government to treat the matter with urgency.

Hinds acknowledged the suggestion of power from Brazil, but said that the price for such power might not be attractive.

PNCR member, Lance Carberry noted that there might have been some degree of neglect in the checks and maintenance of the backup diesel generator. He added that if there had been adequate attention to the physical and geophysical aspects, the situation would not have occurred.

The hydropower station is located about 20 kilometres southeast from Lethem and is equipped with an advanced protection system, meaning that in the event of overload, short circuit or grounding, the station would automatically shut down to protect itself.