GEORGETOWN – Guyana has accelerated its aggressive move towards a modern, stable power supply, with the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) signing a landmark US$15.6 million contract with the Dominican Republic’s InterEnergy Group. The massive two-year deal is the nation’s latest bold attempt to end the cycle of inefficiency and outages by fast-tracking the country’s transition to a high-tech “smart grid.”
Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation, Deodat Indar, underscored the high stakes of the agreement, revealing that the negotiation process was “very rigorous” but ultimately reflects the “best interests” of Guyana. The contract, following a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding, is designed to shore up the country’s power grid reliability and boost crucial technical capacity within GPL.
The InterEnergy Mandate: A Digital RevolutionUnder the terms of the agreement, InterEnergy Holdings is tasked with transforming the nation’s electricity landscape on multiple fronts:
Project Oversight: They will provide management and oversight for major infrastructure projects, ensuring technical compliance and timely execution while integrating smart technologies from the ground up.
Efficiency Audit: The firm will deliver expert technical advisory services, conducting audits and recommending significant improvements to the reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of Guyana’s existing generation assets.
Smart Grid Blueprint: They will lead the smart grid integration effort, conducting technical gap analysis, designing cost-effective expansion plans, and creating a detailed roadmap for full-scale smart grid deployment by the government’s 2030 target.
A Symbol of Growth and Regional TiesGPL Chairman, Mr. Maurice Gajadhar, described the partnership as a “historic step forward,” not just for power, but for regional collaboration. He noted that the partnership reflects the “willingness of two friendly nations to work together for mutual progress.”
Gajadhar stressed that as Guyana boasts being among the “fastest-growing economies in the world,” this deal is crucial proof that the nation is “matching words with action.”
Mr. Rolando González Bunster, Chairman of the InterEnergy Group, emphasized that the collaboration goes “beyond the value of the contract,” representing a meaningful symbol of commitment. He promised: “We assure you that our work will make you proud. We will guide the way, but it is you (GPL) who will drive the journey forward.”
Kesh Nandlall, Head of Executive Management at GPL, echoed the optimism, highlighting the “transformational value” of the initiative, which he said will significantly improve service delivery and ensure the grid is equipped to meet the country’s exploding energy demands.
