Linden and the rest of Region 10 will be placed on the national electricity grid in 2017, according to the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated Chairman Winston Brassington.

 

Speaking at a recent media event, Brassington said the completion of the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Project will pave the way for this crucial development.

 

“Linden is projected to be connected to the grid by 2017 when the Amaila Falls project is completed. Power will come from Amelia to Linden via a new transmission line from Linden to Sophia by another transmission, so then Linden will become part of the grid,” he explained.

 

The hydropower project, which forms part of Guyana Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), will be a source of clean and renewable energy at a reasonable cost.

 

Brassington’s pronouncement was made days before Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh announced that Linden, Region 10 will receive electricity subsidy to the tune of $2.9 billion for 2013. “Budget 2013 allocates sums totalling $2.9 billion to meet the cost of maintaining the electricity subsidy in Linden and Kwakwani so that 10,363 electricity customers in Region 10 can continue to benefit from the currently prevailing rates through the remainder of the year,” Dr Singh said as he presented the 2013 budget to the National Assembly on Monday, March 25.

 

The finance minister pointed out that in 2012, attempts to put the region on the national grid was met with massive protest actions, in which three persons died and scores were injured.

 

“It would be recalled that efforts were initiated in last year’s budget to gradually align the electricity rates paid by the residents of Linden with those paid by electricity customers on the GPL grid. The unfortunate events following those proposals are now well-known, leading to the agreement that a committee be established to examine the matter of electricity rates in Linden,” Dr Singh said.

 

Source:http://www.guyanatimesgy.com/?p=7138