Generating sets ordered for Berbice
-- in wake of PM's dispatch to region
Guyana Chronicle
October 29, 2003
GINA -- Government has placed a lease order for the procurement of four Caterpillar generating units from the United States, to offset the current electricity supply setbacks facing residents of Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).
The quick-response decision by Government came in the wake of Prime Minister Samuel Hinds' being dispatched to East Berbice/Corentyne by President Bharrat Jagdeo to assess the current electricity situation in the Ancient County.
The shipment is expected to arrive in the country within two weeks, and will serve as a much-needed power backup for the region.
Prime Minister Hinds' Cabinet-mandated emergency visit to Region 6 followed the malfunctioning of five of the region's nine power generating units, which went down through separate defects over the last few weeks ago.
Guyana Power and Light Inc.'s Number 4 generating unit at Canefield was down for some time, while the Onverwagt generating unit experienced a total shut down last Sunday.
The remaining four functioning units now supply the region with 5.5 MW of electricity, a steep shortfall from the 14 MW required to service the various communities in Region Six.
Speaking with residents, Mr. Hinds informed them about Government's efforts to restore power supply to the region, within the resources at its disposal.
Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister said, "There has been an issue of money involved, and attempts to do the most that can be done with available financial resources," said the Prime Minister.
In the interim, the region will be provided with a limited and scheduled supply of electricity from the existing 4 MW generating unit, while repair works continue on the malfunctioning GPL units.