Power China and Kalpataru have signed contracts worth $422 million for the extension of transmission lines for the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) to help generate and distribute power from a 300 MW Gas-to-Energy power plant.
The contracts will be distributed in three lots, with Lots 1 and 3 awarded to Power China ($256.7 million) and Lot 2 awarded to Kalpataru ($156.5 million).
Minister within the Ministry of Public Works Deodat Indar said the signing of the contracts marks the start of building infrastructure for the future. The contracts include the construction of 155 km 230 double circuit transmission lines, 167 km of 69 KV double circuit transmission line, five new substations and the upgrade of the Kingston Substation.
The new substations will be at La Bonne Intention, Enmore, Trafalgar and Williamsburg and East Berbice. The projects are expected to be completed in a year.
“The substations will be completed in June, the control centre will be completed in August, all the parts are being completed to receive the power, so we want to make it, so when it comes it is distributed to the country and that is why we are doing this today,” Indar added.
Indar has revealed some 13,974 new customers requested power from GPL in 2024. Currently, the Demerara Berbice Interconnected System accommodates some 230,000 customers. Indar also noted that there is more reliability in power supply with minimal complaints about blackouts on social media.
In 2024, the grid experienced an increase of 124 MW to address growing demand for electricity. The DBIS reached a peak of 205 MW in 2024 and is expected to reach 250 MW for 2025.
