The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has successfully laid a new 13.8 kV submarine cable across the Demerara River and it is now providing over 5 Megawatts (MW) of power to the Eastern Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS), bringing an end to the daily scheduled load shedding activities.
However, GPL explained yesterday that customers on the West Bank and West Coast of Demerara may still experience periods of service interruptions because of the instability of the Vreed-en-Hoop plant, which has been disconnected from the rest of the DBIS.
Added to that, it said the inadequate reserve capacity, made worse by the absence of the damaged 69 kV cable, may result in generation shortfall and periodic service interruptions in the Eastern DBIS.
A release from the power company reminded that when its 69 kV cable sustained damages, this led to the unavailability of 14 MW of generation to the Eastern DBIS. While remedial works to the damaged cable are progressing, and the company is working closely with the contractor to “expeditiously complete repairs and have the cable back in operation in the shortest possible time,” as part of GPL’s emergency plan, it decided to lay the new 13.8 kV cable to make up for the shortfall in generating capacity.
The new cable spans an approximated 4,000 feet from Princes Street, Georgetown, to the GPL power station at Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.
It was stated that the routing and laying of the new cable were achieved with support from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), Gaico Construction Services and staff from GPL’s Project Management Department, Engineering Services, System Planning and Designs, Network Operations and System Control and Engineering Services departments.
The company said that despite inclement weather, the new poles were planted and the additional overhead line sections completed within a few days. The release said plans are in place to have the cable buried at least three metres beneath the riverbed, and it will be monitored by MARAD, as steps are taken to keep the cable safe from oceangoing vessel damage.
In addition to the new cable, GPL also returned two generating units to Anna Regina to boost generation during peak periods. Those units have an aggregate capacity of 2 MW.
GPL also stated that one of its second largest units, a 7.8 MW unit, is back in operation after being unavailable for planned maintenance.
