Region Ten Member of Parliament Sharma Solomon is calling for a more lasting solution to frequent electricity disruptions in Linden.
Solomon has been critical of the recurring blackouts, which residents and businesses say increasingly affect daily life and economic activity. His concerns come as the Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI) attributes the latest disruption to a combination of high community demand and an engine trip at Bosai Guyana Minerals Inc.
According to LECI, Linden’s peak electricity demand has exceeded the more than 14 megawatts allocated to the town under the power purchase agreement involving the Government of Guyana, Bosai and LECI. “The power purchasing agreement with Bosai remain without Bosai having the capacity to expand and build more generating system,” Solomon said.
Compounding the problem, LECI this week said Bosai’s recent engine trip further strained supply, and that sawmills would temporarily be taken off the electricity grid as part of efforts to restore power until demand normalises.
For Solomon, however, the recurring nature of the outages raises questions about the adequacy and resilience of Linden’s electricity system and the responsibility of authorities to ensure residents receive a dependable service. He maintained that residents should not have to repeatedly endure disruptions to a basic utility, particularly as Linden continues to develop and electricity demand grows.
“Now we are using a power purchasing agreement from Bosai where they’re to give us at least 8 megawatts of power for the community. We have not exceeded 8 megawatts. Residential, even as we expand, and businesses even as they come on stream have not exceeded, however the unofficial investments that are not classified as commercial—cement factories…road construction company…31 sawmills…government must correct this,” Solomon said.
LECI’s explanation suggests that the town’s existing allocation is coming under increasing pressure during peak periods, with about 32 active sawmills pushing peak usage to 15.1 megawatts, above Bosai’s 14.1-megawatt supply. Operators are being urged to shift energy-intensive machinery outside peak hours as a result.
Addressing the issue, Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar said authorities are exploring additional generators and improved energy coordination to support timber businesses while protecting household electricity supplies and reducing outages.
