GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s electricity system is in line for a massive overhaul, with the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) estimating it will need about US$700 million to modernize its transmission and distribution network.
President Irfaan Ali, speaking at a press briefing at the Office of the President on Tuesday, said the investment is necessary to bring stability to a system long plagued by blackouts and inefficiencies.
More than half of the funds, about US$400 million, will go toward new and upgraded substations in Georgetown, Garden of Eden, Kingston, Onverwagt, Edinburgh, Good Hope, and Columbia. Another US$300 million will be directed at modernizing GPL’s distribution equipment, which the president said should allow for greater automation, fewer losses, and more reliable service.
“All of this is not only to enhance quality but also to reduce line losses, to reduce leakages in the system, and to enhance efficiency and reliability,” Ali told reporters.
One of the most urgent issues is the submarine cable that runs under the Demerara River between Vreed-en-Hoop and Kingston. Heavy marine traffic and the river’s depth have created risks of damage, and Ali said GPL has been tasked with ensuring the cable is properly protected and secured.
The upgrade plan also includes the introduction of “smart grid” technology. Smart meters, automated reclosers, smart switches, and fault indicators will allow for real-time monitoring, faster responses to outages, and tighter control over losses in the system.
Another major step is the integration of Linden into the Demerara–Berbice Interconnected System. This will require new substations at Bamia, Mackenzie, and Wismar, along with transmission improvements along the Linden–Soesdyke Highway. A National Control Centre and advanced metering infrastructure are also on the agenda.
To manage the rollout, GPL is negotiating with InterEnergy for technical advisory support and supervision. The deal is expected to cost US$15 million over two years, far less than the US$40 million the government says is normally spent on consultancy services of this scale.
“These investments will bring Guyana’s electricity infrastructure to international standards, improve energy security, and enable cost-effective integration of renewables,” Ali said. “As we expand our industrial base and pursue new opportunities in manufacturing, technology, and data centres, it is clear that we must ramp up generation capacity.”
For households and businesses that have long dealt with sudden outages, voltage fluctuations, and the costs that come with them, the promise of a modernized grid could not come sooner.
