The Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has been beset by numerous challenges, leading to blackouts that have been a point of frustration for citizens. Though acknowledging that there have been some improvements, President Dr Irfaan Ali says many more developments are coming, and much more relief will be brought to citizens. The President spoke about these plans during a year-end interview with women journalists and students. He pointed out that ongoing development, which has led to the construction of thousands of new houses and the establishment of new businesses, contributed to the spike in the power demand. The increased demand, coupled with the aging power distribution system, has challenged GPL, the President said. “On the power side, there have been improvements (though) still not where we want them to be (and there are) still weaknesses in management that we are addressing,” he said, adding later: “We are fixing and reinvesting in the entire infrastructure whilst we have to keep the power on.”As he has highlighted before, Dr Ali explained that GPL and the main power grid it runs (the Demerara- Berbice Interconnected System), did not have enough investments from 2015 to 2020 while the former APNU+AFC government was in office. So, with demand outstripping supply, the President said his government has the herculean task of rapidly investing in GPL’s expansion.There has been a need to invest in new generators locally as the power demand grows. The government sourced additional power from two power ships, so that excess demand can be met. Investments are being made to update the old transmission and distribution network.Beyond current capacity, a major natural gas power project is under development. That Wales Gas-to-Energy project should provide an additional 300 megawatts (MW) of power to Guyana- an amount nearly equivalent to what currently exists.If electricity woes don’t ease early 2025, GPL officials to be ‘held accountable’ – President The post Improvements seen but GPL not where gov’t wants it to be – President appeared first on News Room Guyana.