but because of that company’s cash-strapped situation

micevan1l6

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is in talks with the state’s sugar company to manage three Wärtsilä generators at the Skeldon factory.The operation of the three engines, part of a co-generation facility built into the multi-million-US-dollar Skeldon factory, had come sharply into focus after blackouts in Berbice.The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) had been managing the engines, which have a 10-megawatt capacity, but because of that company’s cash-strapped situation, maintenance had been aGPL is in talks with GuySuCo to manage the Wärtsilä engines at the Skeldon factory.sore issue.The co-generation facility comprises two 15-megawatt turbine steam engines which use bagasse (remains of the crushed sugarcane) and three Wärtsilä generators with a 10-megawatt capacity. It was built with the intention of boosting GPL’s capacity in Berbice. The turbines would operate during crop while the Wärtsilä engines kick in at other times. However, there has been worry that the Wärtsilä engines which require scheduled maintenance, were not receiving the necessary attention.The largest of the Wärtsilä engines, some five-megawatts, went down after an alternator blew last year. Poor maintenance has been blamed.Under arrangements, GPL would provide fuel to GuySuCo to produce power year round.Questioned about reports that GPL will be moving to maintain the Wärtsilä sets, Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Dindyal, disclosed that the Government has approved of talks between the two state entities to make this a reality.Kaieteur News understands that current GuySuCo staffers may be trained by Wärtsilä to operate the engines, as part of the recommendations made.GPL has been speaking about the increasing challenges it has been facing as a result of growing demands. A major programme to build new transmission lines, via a US$38M Chinese loan, is underway. A 26-megawatt Wärtsilä plant is also under construction at Vreed-en-Hoop.It is the intention to fully link Demerara and Berbice into an integrated system also under construction.