Berbicians who were recently plagued by constant blackouts can likely look forward to a bright Christmas as an additional seven megawatts of electricity will be added to the Berbice grid through the Skeldon Modernization Project.
The co-generation project, which is being undertaken by the China National Trade Import/Export Corporation (CNTIC) is expected to be ready in time for Christmas, senior engineer and construction manager of CNTIC, Zhao Zhengxiang, said.
Zhao, accompanied by a colleague, Zhang Sen took Stabroek News on a tour of the site and pointed out two of the three Finland-made Wartsila diesel generators that would be ready for safe testing next week. The third generator would be tested the following week to ensure there are no mechanical problems. Zhao said the generators would subsequently undergo performance testing before they can be handed over to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) then to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to synchronize into their system.
According to Zhao, the three generators have a total capacity of 10,000 kilowatts (KW) – two of which consist of 2,500 KWs each and the other, 5,000 KWs. The generators are capable of supplying 10 megawatts of electricity but only seven to eight megawatts would be added to the Berbice grid. “After the electricity is generated it goes into the step-up transformer and is then exported to the outside line,” he said adding that GPL is currently working on the site to export the electricity.
The engineer explained that the fuel which is known as “heavy fuel” goes into a large “long-term oil storage tank” that has a capacity of 220 cubic metres. It would then be pumped from there into a smaller tank of about 35 cubic metres. He told this newspaper that because the heavy fuel is “sticky” a “fully automatic oil-fired steam start boiler” that is attached to the small tank heats the fuel to allow it to flow freely to the generators. The fuel also has to go through a filter process to get rid of “foreign materials” which can damage the machines.
Zhao said he was excited that the project, which was started in July 2006, is nearing completion. “It is a proud project and I believe it is a big gift for Guyana,” he said.
He acknowledged that because of the problems with the GPL generators at Canefield, “the residents in Berbice were affected by constant blackouts and the government was faced with a lot of pressure.” He said, “We are doing our best and I am confident that the diesel generation plant would be put into operation before Christmas
