PM – Wartsila liable for any repairs/damages at Garden of Eden Power Station

A special emergency meeting with the management of the Wartsila Corporation was held Friday
this evening by Prime Minister, Mark Phillips. It was agreed at that meeting to immediately
dispatch a team of engineers to Guyana to correct the technical challenges that have temporarily
halted operations at the Garden of Eden Power Station.

Phillips disclosed that the facility is still under warranty, and as a result, the contracted Finnish
company would be liable for any and all expenses. “As a Government, we will ensure that this
project is fixed and that Wartsila covers the cost since there is a warranty in place,” he said.
The Prime Minister noted that poor project management during the initial stage of the project by
the APNU/AFC administration has resulted in numerous hindrances. “This 46.5-megawatt
project was problematic from the start. The APNU/AFC Government embarked on this project in
a rushed manner. From August 2, 2020, we have been dealing with a lot of corrective work as we
seek to implement this project,” Phillips explained. The Prime Minister added that the generators
were also reportedly manufactured in 2018, before the commencement of the project in 2019.
TEMPORARILY HALTED
Late Friday afternoon, the PM visited the power station and announced that operations at the
facility will be temporarily halted as a result of technical challenges being experienced with the
generators. Phillips on the advice of the technical officials, a decision was taken to shut down the
generators to avert any occupational safety and health challenges or damages that may occur to
the facility as a result. “This is a decision that was made based on safety. This is a 55-million US
dollar investment, and precautions are necessary. We don’t want anybody to be hurt just because
we decide to ignore what is happening and run the plant,” the Prime Minister said
The senior government official stressed that with the Demerara Berbice Interconnected system
now having less supply to cater to the demand for electricity, there may be load-shedding, but
called on Guyanese to be patient.  “I want the people of Guyana to understand from a safety and
precautionary standpoint that it is necessary that we shut down this plant to do further
checks. We will make sure that the problems are fixed.  Unlike the previous administration, we
intend to ensure that our people are given the best. One of the objectives of our Government is to
end blackouts, and I intend to see that come to past,” he urged.