Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 20, 2016 News
– But GPL can only take 15MW due to lack of infrastructure
By Kiana Wilburg
The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is currently in preparation mode for a series of projects for
diversification, one of which includes the sale of electricity.
Chairman of the entity, Dr. Clive Thomas says that the prospects for financial improvement with the planned projects are indeed encouraging, but there are a few concerns when it comes to its plans to pursue selling electricity.
In this regard, he noted that based on his findings, GuySuCo has the ability of supplying 17MW of power, but the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), its target customer, can only take 15MW. Thomas explained that this is due to a lack of infrastructure on the part of GPL.
He said that it is still being considered what implications this might pose for the company’s prospects in raking in big profits in the early stages.
Furthermore, the GuySuCo Chairman projects that the co-generation subsidiary is projected to make a profit of $578M in 2016 and will increase rapidly by 2021. He said that diesel-generated power will be charged at US$0.02 per kilowatt hour, while noting that turbine-generated power has increased to US$0.21 per kilowatt hour. He projected that internally consumed power will be charged at US$0.04 per kilowatt hour.
Dr. Thomas also stated that efforts are still ongoing to recover Skeldon’s co-generation plant which was sold to Skeldon Energy Inc. (SEI). This component is crucial to GuySuCo’s plans to successfully be involved in the sale of electricity.
He said that the former CEO of GuySuCo, Rajendra Singh, sold the company’s generation facilities to Skeldon Energy Inc—a Special Purpose Company jointly owned by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), for US$30m, only to have it buy back power to run the factory.
To date the sugar company has also only been paid US$19M of the agreed US$30M, and SEI has since indicated that it could revise the outstanding US$11M amount. Dr. Thomas told Kaieteur News that it is imperative that the plant be recovered as it is a major supplier of power and basically the lifeline of the factory.
“It is such a major producer of power that it supplies 90,000 households in Berbice. We are in discussions with an aim at having that sale being reversed from being the property of GPL. It is an important pillar for GuySuCo. We are hoping to get it for next year. We want to be able to sell GPL power. We are getting ripped off with the plant being in the possession of another company.”
The GuySuCo Chairman explained also that high on the entity’s list of priorities is moving towards the diversification of the sugar industry, especially as it relates to refined sugar.
He noted that GuySuCo is still working to achieve a breakthrough with a new upgraded sugar called, “Enmore Crystals.”
“This product will help to give us some leverage to sell our sugar for more. This packaged sugar is only being done in small quantities for the markets in Canada, USA and Britain.”
The GuySuCo Chairman said that the Board and Management believe that the packaged sugar will do better than “the ordinary sugar sold in the transparent plastic bag.” He noted that samples are already being taken to the three markets he outlined, among other places where contacts are made.
Dr. Thomas said, “We are trying to penetrate the market with small quantities and build up as time goes. We are basically doing this to see how we can get a higher price for our sugar. And so far, it has been receiving favourable reviews from our international contacts, so we are looking to see how this works out, but there are other plans in the pipeline for the diversification of this product and bringing the industry back to good health.”
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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