Recent blackouts due to transmission line faults – Harjohn
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL), Bharat Harjohn says the frequent power outages during last week were due to the faults within the transmission line between Kingston and Sophia, Georgetown.
He told Stabroek News on Monday that the faults in the transmission line were rectified but the frequent power outages were compounded by a defective transformer at GPL’s substation in Edinburgh (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).
“The transmission line that experienced a fault has been rectified but there was also a defective transformer at our substation in Edinburgh which became defective, but our emergency team is working on it as we speak”.
Harjohn who is also in charge of Strategic Operations at the power company said that the emergency team is working to replace the defective transformer by today.
Many citizens during the course of last week had lambasted the power company due to the frequent outages experienced, though GPL procured 17 generators to alleviate the situation.
Asked by this newspaper for an update on the progress regarding the installation of the generators, Harjohn said five generators have been installed and the team is still working to get the remaining 12
connected to the grid.
“Five have been connected to the grid, while the team is working to get the remainder up and running”, he informed. Monday’s budget presentation said that the generators will be installed by next month. The project was originally expected to be completed last December.
The GPL official assured that the power outages had nothing to do with a shortfall in power generation.
The heavy fuel oil generators from Honduras had experienced several shipping
delays. They were first expected here on November 22nd and then
December 5th before finally arriving on December 13th.