Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc., under the responsibility of Prime Minister Mark Phillips, says that on April 13, 2024, it officially signed a contract with Urbacon Concessions Investments, W.L.L (UCI) to charter a power ship with a total installed capacity of 36 Megawatts (MWs) for a period of twenty four months. According to GPL, “The contract includes the provision of operation and maintenance services as part of the agreement.
UCI is a subsidiary of UCC Holdings, a company incorporated in the State of Qatar. UCC Holdings has a strategic alliance with Karpowership International, a Turkish company.”
A statement from GPL said, “The contract requires GPL to pay UCI a fee of 6.62 US cents per kWh as a monthly charter fee for the powership and a monthly operation and maintenance fee of 0.98 US cents per kWh, based on electricity generated.
The powership is expected to operate at 96 percent availability. GPL has paid a total mobilization fee of One Million United States Dollars and is not required under the contract to pay a demobilization fee. Under the contract, GPL is responsible for providing Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) for the operation of the generators.”
Guyana over the last few years has been faced with a number of blackouts. The People’s Progressive Party-led (PPP) administration said last year it had a handle on the situation (PPP) and that Guyanese could expect fewer blackouts. That was not to be as the frequency of power outages have only gotten worst. The Government of Guyana has since heaped blame for that state of the power generation of it predessors, the APNU+AFC Coalition four years after it demitted office.
GPL ststes that “The powership was last operated in Cuba as a part of contingent of similar generation assets and is expected to arrive in Guyana on May 1, 2024, subject to weather conditions. The powership will be located at Everton, Berbice and will be interconnected with GPL’s Grid at 69 KV. GPL has already commenced preparatory work at the site to accommodate the powership and the interconnection to GPL’s Grid. The powership is expected to be fully operational and delivering electricity by May 8, 2024.”
