The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) and the Georgetown Mayor and City Council have signed an agreement to move ahead with the acquisition of land for a new Princes Street substation.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Georgetown Mayor Alfred Mentore and Head of GPL’s Executive Management Committee, Kesh Nandlall.
GPL Director Ryan Ross, Deputy Mayor Denise Miller, Town Clerk Candace Nelson and other representatives of GPL and the M&CC were also present at the signing.
The agreement covers the proposed transfer of approximately 0.97 acres of vacant municipal land at Princes Street to GPL for the construction and operation of a new 69kV/13.8kV Gas Insulated Switchgear substation.
The transfer remains subject to the required statutory approvals and completion of the conveyance process.
The Princes Street Substation will form part of GPL’s ongoing national transmission and distribution expansion project. It is intended to strengthen the electricity network in Georgetown and support improved reliability for customers.
The agreement also provides for GPL and the M&CC to reconcile outstanding financial obligations between the two entities.
Under the arrangement, GPL will determine and confirm outstanding electricity charges owed by the M&CC for its buildings and street lighting, where applicable. The M&CC will also determine outstanding rates and taxes owed by GPL in relation to GPL properties and locations.
The value of the Princes Street property will be determined by the State Valuation Department of the Ministry of Finance and credited against the reconciled balance.
Both sides are expected to offset the amounts owed and agree on a net settlement, with any remaining balance to be settled in a manner mutually agreed by GPL and the M&CC.
Speaking at the signing, Nandlall welcomed the partnership and said GPL’s infrastructure development must also include strategic investments within Georgetown.
“I am happy that we can do this. Importantly, as we continue to develop our infrastructure, we also have to develop the infrastructure within the city,” Nandlall said.
He said Princes Street is a central location where GPL wants to establish a substation that will be interconnected with the existing New Georgetown and Kingston substations.
The signing represents continued collaboration between GPL and City Hall to advance infrastructure development in Georgetown while addressing matters of mutual interest between the two entities.
GPL said it continues to advance investments aimed at strengthening and modernising the national transmission and distribution network to improve the reliability and resilience of electricity service to customers.
