By Saskia Warrick
Guyana Power & Light (GPL) is confronting a complex challenge as power outages become more frequent.
President Irfaan Ali has urged the utility company to explore alternative options to provide ‘bridging energy’ to meet the demand while awaiting the completion of the gas-fired power plant.
President Ali revealed that GPL is grappling with insufficient power capacity and a human resources gap, leading to operational deficiencies.
With a demand growth of around 35 megawatts this year, there is an urgent need to fill these vacancies.
Should there continue to be a shortage of technical experts domestically, the government is prepared to recruit foreign technical support.
Importantly, President Ali disclosed that the government has engaged UK Export Finance (UKEF) to explore financing options for the transmission.
This move underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the energy crisis comprehensively.
Currently, there is a demand for 220 megawatts of power, but GPL is only generating 165 megawatts at peak hours.
This imbalance highlights the urgent need for proactive measures to bridge the gap between demand and supply.