Blackout hits Demerara system
-- GPL says no shortage of generation capacity
Guyana Chronicle
March 15, 2007
CUSTOMERS on both sides of the Demerara River were without power for several hours from Tuesday evening well into the wee hours of yesterday after what Guyana Power and Light Inc. said was a series of problems that developed in the Demerara power generation system.
The problem, the company said, began around 22:00h with the shutting down of two generators at the Kingston Wartsila plant, Georgetown, followed in quick order, by reaction from other generators at the Wartsila station and the GPL station resulting in a total shutdown.
According to GPL, power supply to the 50 Hertz area was restored around 23:30h Tuesday while the technical team comprising mechanical, electrical and protection engineers worked to bring all the sets back on stream.
This was achieved by 03:00h yesterday with power supply being restored to both 50 and 60 Hertz areas, the last being Cummingsburg and Charlestown, the company said.
The technical team, it said, had advised that the Demerara system would have received a boost last evening as the power availability was due to climb to 86 megawatts with the overhauling and putting back into service of two generating units at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara.
The team, the company said, has maintained that despite the Tuesday blackout, there is no shortage of generation capacity in the system, nor are there any defective machines.
GPL said the generating sets were all overhauled in the last three to six months as it prepared for the expected increase in demand for power during the Cricket World Cup season.
In addition, it said, networks engineers have suspended all routine maintenance activities, which usually interrupt power supply in specific areas, until the last ball is bowled and the winner of the Cricket World Cup is declared, allowing for customers to view the matches without undue interruption.
The company said its Network Operations Manager, Mr. Godfrey Bellamy reported that maintenance teams will concentrate on emergency repairs, and they have a mandate to isolate problem areas carefully during the period and complete all works in the shortest possible time.