Kesh Nandlall

Head of the Executive Management Committee of Guyana Power and Light

Building a smarter power grid

Kesh Nandlall, Head of the Executive Management Committee at Guyana Power and Light, outlines how the utility is scaling generation capacity, accelerating digital transformation and modernizing infrastructure to meet the country’s rising demand and energy diversification goals.

“GPL is charting a bold and transformative path toward its 2030 goals, with a strategic vision centered on reliability, sustainability and digital modernization.”

Kesh Nandlall

    • How have Guyana Power and Light’s (GPL’s) legacy milestones paved the way for Guyana’s current energy revamp?

      Prior to 1992, Guyana’s electricity sector was characterized by systemic instabilities and frequent and prolonged outages that significantly affected national development. After entering office, the current government prioritized revamping the electricity sector, beginning with the commissioning of the 11-MW Garden of Eden power plant with Wärtsilä generators in 1992. Additional installations included the 10-MW Anna Regina facility in 1993 and the 22-MW Kingston facility in 1994. To complement these critical and cost-intensive investments, the first of Wärtsilä’s operations and maintenance agreements came into effect in 1994. These investments laid the groundwork that continues to reshape Guyana’s economy and landscape.

      In 1999, the Guyana Electricity Corporation was restructured into GPL through a 50:50 joint venture with a UK-based consortium. Due to underperformance, the government of Guyana reacquired full ownership of the company in 2003. The state established a board of directors to ensure strategic oversight and alignment with national policies and other government energy initiatives. Initially operating on an isolated 11-kV, 50-hertz distribution system, GPL’s services span the coastal portion of Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice counties. In 2008, GPL secured a $31.4 million loan to develop a 20.7-MW plant in Kingston, 69-kV interconnection transmission lines and power generation facilities in Berbice.

      In 2009, GPL commenced its transition to a 60-hertz power system by initiating phased upgrades to power generation and transmission infrastructure. In the same year, a $33.9-million engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was signed with China National Machinery Corporation for the construction of seven new substations and the upgrade of two existing substations, laying the foundation for the present Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System (DBIS). Subsequent strategic milestones included a $18.4-million EPC contract with Wärtsilä signed in 2010 to expand Kingston by 15.6 MW, with commissioning in 2011, and a $26 million EPC contract signed in 2013 for a 26.1-MW plant in Vreed en Hoop, commissioned in 2015.

      By 2014, the DBIS was fully operational at 60 hertz, standardized at 69 kV for transmission and 13.8 kV for primary distribution, marking a major milestone in GPL’s electricity sector modernization endeavor.

      In 2020, with financing from the government of Guyana, GPL signed an EPC contract with Wärtsilä for a 46.5-MW, dual-fuel power plant at the Garden of Eden site. This plant was commissioned in 2021 and continues to be a critical power-generating asset that sustains the demand of the DBIS.

      In December 2022, the government signed a $759-million contract with a joint venture between Lindsayca and CH4 to construct a 300-MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant and natural gas liquefaction facility. In 2023, a $159.9-million contract was signed with Kalpataru Projects International for the construction of Guyana’s first 230-kV transmission lines, 69-kV sub-transmission lines and new substations to integrate the 300-MW CCGT plant with the DBIS.

      As Guyana’s oil and gas economy continues to grow, its electricity demand has increased concomitantly. GPL, supported by government financing, entered into a charter plus agreement with Urbacon Concessions Investments in 2024 for a 36-MW powership, berthed in the Berbice River and connected to the DBIS at Everton. Later that year, GPL signed an additional charter plus agreement with a joint venture between Urbacon Concessions Investments and Karpowership for 75 MW of firm generating capacity. These investments are short-term, serving as a temporary solution to bridge the supply and demand gap. To further complement the investments made for the 300-MW CCGT plant and associated power system integration infrastructure, GPL signed two contracts on April 4, 2025, valued at $422 million to construct 230-kV and 69-kV transmission lines and new substations. These projects are aimed at enhancing grid security, operational efficiency and expanding electricity access nationwide.

    • From its time of inception, the company’s customer base has grown from less than 100,000 to more than 230,000 in 2025. Within the last five years, our customer energy’s intensity has increased significantly, signally a healthy economy and willingness to invest. As Guyana continues to experience rapid industrialization and urban expansions, GPL’s strategic initiatives are aligned with the government’s vision for a resilient and inclusive energy sector. The company supports key national priorities, including the development of new housing schemes, industrial zones, healthcare facilities and academic institutions. GPL is also instrumental in advancing Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy by facilitating the integration of renewable energy systems into the national grid.

      As of 2025, GPL has significantly advanced its generation and distribution capabilities to meet the nation’s accelerating energy demands. With a total installed capacity of 300.4 MW and peak demand reaching 207.6 MW in 2024, GPL has prioritized its available resources to maintain system reliability.

      Recent capacity expansions, including 124 MW of new generation capacity, have bolstered the DBIS, currently serving upwards of 232,823 customers. Looking ahead, the 300-MW Gas-to-Energy project in Wales is poised to generate enough electricity to enable broader electrification, industrial development and lowered electricity tariffs.

    • GPL embraces the integration of renewable energy into its power system. The Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program is currently executing EPC contracts for the construction of 33 MW of solar photovoltaic farms, with 15 MW to be installed in Linden, 8 MW on the Essequibo Coast and 10 MW within Berbice. These projects are expected to be completed and commissioned by October 2026. Moreover, in addition to the Bartica isolated system having a 1.5 MW solar farm, two new solar facilities are being constructed in the isolated system of Wakenaam and Leguan with capacities of 750 kW and 600 kW, respectively. Furthermore, the Guyana Energy Agency recently closed a public tender for a 450-kW wind farm in Leguan. By the year 2026, the Leguan isolated system will have an aggregated renewable energy capacity of 3.3 MW.

      GPL is also currently running its Grid-tied and Net-Billing Programme, which functions as a feed-in tariff for customers with rooftop solar systems, allowing them to export excess electricity to the grid. As an enabler for the program, the International Renewable Energy Agency provided technical assistance in the development of a publicly accessible online tool – the SolarCity Simulator – that allows customers to evaluate the potential technical and financial parameters of their own rooftop solar systems.

      Known as the “land of many waters,” Guyana also has significant hydropower potential. The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project remains a critical power generation project for GPL. The development will not only provide critical capacity and ancillary services but also assist in decarbonizing the power grid, helping propel Guyana toward achieving its emission reduction target of 70% by 2030.

      The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is also a pivotal component of the Arcto Norte Project, which includes the development and commissioning of a significant amount of hydropower generation capacity in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The long-term development will buttress local generation capacity and export electricity to Brazil, connecting with the state of Roraima in northwestern Brazil and Amapa in the southeast.

    • While the DBIS remains the primary beneficiary of investments, GPL is addressing service gaps in its isolated grids located on the Essequibo Coast, Wakenaam Island, Leguan Island and Bartica through targeted renewable integration and microgrid planning. In 2023, a 1.5-MW solar facility and battery energy storage system (BESS) were commissioned in Bartica. In Wakenaam, a 750-kW solar farm and BESS is presently being constructed through a financial grant from the UAE. This facility is expected to be commissioned in Q3 2025. GPL is also set to obtain a 600-kW solar and BESS facility in Leguan in 2025 with government financing through the Guyana Energy Agency. An additional 450-kW wind farm in Leguan is expected to be commissioned in 2026.

      The renewable energy system powering Bartica has already demonstrated a significant reduction in diesel usage and created confidence for GPL to proceed with similar projects. While there has been a primary focus on power generation, transmission and distribution has also benefited equally, specifically in capital investments to expand and update the distribution system and to ensure that maintenance remains a top priority.

    • Over the past two to three years, GPL has executed a series of transformative infrastructure investments aimed at reinforcing the reliability, resilience, and modernization of the national grid. In power generation, we recently acquired two powerships, adding 96 MW of firm generating capacity to the DBIS. This strategic addition allows GPL to meet the growing electricity demand and maintain a capacity reserve margin, facilitating the execution of scheduled overhauls on base-load generation assets without compromising system stability.

      In May 2024, GPL signed an EPC agreement with Open Systems International and Aspen Technology for the deployment of a modern control system for the DBIS. In July of the same year, an EPC contract with PowerChina came into effect for the construction of a modern facility to accommodate the new supervisory control and data acquisition system, energy management system and other mission-critical control applications. These investments are presently laying the foundation for a fully integrated smart grid.

      As part of its broader digital transformation strategy, GPL is actively upgrading its substations, distribution infrastructure and metering systems in alignment with modern grid automation. These enhancements are integral to the company’s long-term vision of establishing a fully digitized, end-to-end smart grid from generation to household metering and positioning GPL as a forward-looking utility aligned with global energy innovation standards.

      To date, GPL has successfully published, evaluated and awarded a series of major contracts aligned with its strategic objective to enhance the performance, reliability and security of the national power system. These procurements have been instrumental in advancing GPL’s infrastructure, modernization agenda and operational resilience.

    • As Guyana’s economy continues to expand at an accelerated pace, GPL has recognized the critical importance of leveraging international expertise in its development endeavors. The company anticipates continued engagement with global partners through additional EPC and project management and owner engineering service contracts, aimed at fortifying Guyana’s electricity sector and enabling long-term energy sustainability.

      GPL’s procurement process is governed principally by the Procurement Act and is administered by the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board under the Ministry of Finance. All major tenders are publicly advertised to ensure transparency and competitiveness, with notices published on GPL’s official website and in widely circulated local newspapers. These tenders are open to national and international bidders.

      GPL welcomes collaboration in areas such as renewable energy development, smart grid technologies, transmission and distribution expansion, workforce development and climate-aligned financing.

      The company’s leadership is focused on building an agile, accountable and investment-ready organization that not only meets the growing energy demands of Guyana but also contributes to the country’s broader economic and environmental goals.

    • GPL is charting a bold and transformative path toward its 2030 goals, with a strategic vision centered on reliability, sustainability and digital modernization. GPL remains committed to delivering universal access to electricity, modernizing its infrastructure and positioning Guyana as a regional power utility leader. By 2030, GPL aims to achieve 100% electrification, supported by a diversified energy mix that includes a significant share of renewables and natural gas. The company is actively transitioning to a smart grid model by incorporating advanced metering infrastructure, real-time monitoring and automated systems to enhance operational efficiency and customer service. To support this transformation, GPL is prioritizing financial sustainability, regulatory compliance and operational transparency.

      As the CEO of GPL, the top priorities of the executive team for the next three years include – but are not limited to – improving customer experience and accountability, ensuring the company attains financial sustainability and investment readiness, further enhancing power generation capacity, continuing to modernize the transmission and distribution system, and execute digital transformation and smart grid developments. Our goal is to firmly position Guyana’s electricity sector in the 21st century and evolve GPL into a world-class utility.

      To position GPL as more agile, accountable and investment-ready, the executive team has been focusing on several strategic pillars, including – but not limited to – responding more rapidly and intelligently to economic dynamics, building trust and transparency with customers and the Public Utilities Commission, investing in smart technology to improve operational efficiencies and collaborating with multilaterals to work as a team to transform GPL into a work-class utility company.