Georgetown, Guyana.
October 4, 2023
For immediate release to all media houses.
PRESS RELEASE
AFC SAYS PPP RESPONSIBLE FOR BLACKOUTS
After three years of taking control of the government, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration is still attempting to project its failure in the administration of the electricity portfolio onto the opposition.
It is clear that the current PPP administration is derelict in its duty to make the necessary investments to build on what they found, and by not doing anything, have allowed the generating capacity, built between 2015 and 2020 to deteriorate, forcing the country into an ominous cycle of load-shedding (blackouts). The PPP has had three years of oil revenue funding to fix the generating capacity of GPL.
Earlier in the life of the administration, we urged the PPP to use the windfall from our oil resources wisely to alleviate the unnecessary burden and support the good life of the Guyanese people. Clearly, this has fallen on deaf ears.
We also warned against gutting the human resource capacity and competence of the leadership and technical teams at GPL. The government ignored the warning and has used its policy of victimization to cleanse GPL and other state agencies of proper leadership. Consequently, GPL has failed to follow industry best practices and has fallen behind.
Lest we forget, when we took power, there were no plans at GPL regarding expanding our electricity sector, and it was on the verge of collapse. The coalition administration spent the next five (5) years systematically rebuilding and improving the power sector with clear, workable, and proven standards to increase capacity and resilience.
We are proud of our achievement that over five short years, the coalition administration was responsible for nine (9) new generating sets, totalling 63MW, which were purchased and installed – (1) Anna Regina – 5.4MW; (2) Bartica – 3.4MW; (3) Bellevue – 1.5MW; (4) Cane field – 5.5MW; and (5) Garden of Eden – 46.5MW.
In 2015, GPL’s generating capacity was listed at 120 – 125MW; however, by 2020, the APNU+AFC administration increased it by 50%.
In addition to installing more generators in communities across the country, GPL reduced its technical and commercial line losses by 5%, which resulted in annual savings of G$450M.
Under APNU+AFC between 2015-2020, GPL provided power to 60 previously unserved areas, benefiting 26,286 residents, and in the process, terminated the PPP’s policy of having customers pay 25% of installation costs.
The government must take responsibility and fix the problem facing the sector.
END
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