Interview with Kesh Nandlall, Leader of Executive Management, Guyana Power & Light

30 Jun Interview with Kesh Nandlall, Leader of Executive Management, Guyana Power & Light

Can you give us a snapshot of Guyana’s current energy mix and infrastructure and how well the power generation sector has kept up with rising demand and improved access to electricity?

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) is the primary electricity provider for the coastal regions of Guyana, while the smaller utilities are under the Office of the Prime Minister and serve the interior areas. The national grid, powered by GPL, remains heavily reliant on liquid fossil fuels, though there are small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in operation. To support the country’s energy transition, the government of Guyana is investing in major infrastructural development projects including the 300 megawatt natural gas power plant, utility-scale solar PV farms and a small wind farm. Between 2020 and 2024, gross generation increased by 58 percent. This increase was driven primarily by the significant industrial and commercial activities, which continues today. In 2024 alone, a total of 124.9 megawatts of new power generating capacity was added to ensure there is adequate supply and reserve margins for the national grid.

In April 2025, GPL signed contracts totalling $422 million to expand transmission and distribution systems. The projects included are five new substations, 96 miles of 230 kilovolt transmission lines and over 100 miles of 69 kilovolt transmission lines across the Coastal Plain. These upgrades will assist in further evacuating and transmitting power from the 300 megawatt natural gas power plant to West and East Berbice and improve grid reliability and security. The government’s Gas-to-Energy Project will add 300 megawatts in its first phase, with a second 300 megawatts phase planned. Additionally, 33 megawatts of solar PV is being integrated, with 100 megawatts more in development.

GPL’s five-year plan projects annual generation to exceed 3,200 gigawatt hours by 2029. Planned interconnections with major towns and the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project will further enhance access to electricity and improve the quality of service. These developments certainly present significant investment opportunities in Guyana’s growing energy sector.

What are the biggest challenges facing the industry today and how are GPL and the government addressing them?

The national electricity grid is presently confronted with three principal challenges: aging infrastructure, high operational costs and increasing demand for electricity. Although generation capacity is sufficient, the transmission and distribution (T&D) systems are outdated and inadequate to meet the evolving needs of consumers. This has resulted in operational inefficiencies and reliability concerns. In response, the government of Guyana has committed over $422 million toward the modernization of the grid—making it the most significant investments to date in the upgrade and expansion of the T&D infrastructure. Concurrently, the development of a smart grid is underway. This initiative aims to enhance system monitoring, reduce technical and commercial losses and improve the reliability and quality of electricity services to customers.

To address cost challenges and diversify the national energy mix, the government is advancing several strategic energy projects. These include the 300 megawatt natural gas power plant and the GuySol Project, which will deliver a total 33 megawatt peak of utility-scale solar PV farms. Additional solar PV projects are being implemented on the islands of Wakenaam (750 kilowatt peak) and Leguan (600 kilowatt peak), located at the mouth of the Essequibo River. These initiatives represent a coordinated and forward-looking strategy to establish a modern, resilient and inclusive energy system that supports Guyana’s long-term development and sustainability goals.

How is digital transformation impacting power generation in Guyana and how central is digitization to GPL’s current growth strategy?

In alignment with the E-Governance and ICT Masterplan 2030, GPL is advancing a comprehensive digital transformation strategy that is central to its modernization and growth agenda. Through the integration of automation, data systems and Smart Grid, GPL aims at enhancing its operational efficiency, service reliability and customer engagement.

A key milestone in this transformation is the construction of a new national control center in partnership with AspenTech DGM. This facility will introduce advanced grid management technologies to GPL and serve as the foundation for the transition to a smart grid. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce system losses, improve efficiency and enable real-time grid oversight. GPL is also reviewing tenders for the segmentation of its service areas and the installation of advanced smart meters. These meters will play a critical role in enabling remote monitoring, accurate billing and data-driven grid management to mitigate non-technical losses. Concurrently, the company is modernizing its customer service platforms by expanding electronic payment channels and enhancing digital interfaces to improve accessibility and responsiveness.

With smart grid technologies, GPL aims at increasing the uptake of renewable energy sources, enabling better demand forecasting and ensuring grid stability and reliability. These efforts reflect GPL’s commitment to building a modern, resilient and inclusive energy system to support the government’s long-term vision as outlined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

What new technologies has GPL adopted recently and how are they improving operational efficiency, service delivery, or grid resilience?

Regarding power generation, new technologies include a combination of modern combined cycle gas turbines, Battery Energy Storage System, modern Power Plant Distribution Control System, SCADA, energy management systems and generation management system applications. These modern systems are presently being implemented and guarantee significant improvements in operational efficiency, service delivery, or grid resilience post commissioning.

At the 230 kilovolt and 69 kilovolt voltage levels, GPL has adopted the use of aluminum conductor composite core conductors to improve its transmission efficiency and short to long-term resilience. With the implementation of Auto Reclosers, GPL has observed a significant improvement in the reliability at the primary distribution level.

On the customer service front, GPL is upgrading its customer information system to enable digital communication via WhatsApp and provide online access to billing information. These enhancements are complemented by expanded electronic payment channels. Further, GPL is implementing advanced metering infrastructure and GIS systems to improve grid monitoring, customer location tracking and service efficiency. The combined use of these technologies will reduce losses, enhance reliability and support real-time decision-making.

Could you explain the GUYSOL program and how it contributes to the country’s broader decarbonization goals?

The GUYSOL Project supports Guyana’s LCDS through the development of a 33 megawatt peak of utility-scale solar PV farms. This includes 10 megawatts in Berbice, 8 megawatt peak in the isolated Essequibo grid and 15 megawatt peak in the Linden grid, contributing to emissions reduction through clean energy integration.

Construction is progressing steadily, with the Onderneeming solar farm expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Work in Berbice is ongoing and the contract for the Linden facility was awarded in April 2025.

Guyana attracted $7.2 billion in FDI in 2023, with 96 percent of total inflows coming from the U.S. GPL has recently secured major contracts with international partners, including Power China and India’s Kalpataru. How open is GPL to partnerships with the U.S. and other global players?

Guyana’s energy sector continues to attract robust international interest. This signals growing global confidence in the country’s economic trajectory and the pivotal role of energy in its development agenda.

GPL welcomes engagement from U.S. and other global partners, particularly in areas aligned with its strategic priorities such as smart grid development, renewable energy integration and transmission system expansion. These partnerships are essential to accelerating the energy transition and delivering long-term value to the people of Guyana.

All procurement activities are conducted through a transparent and competitive tender process, governed by the National Tender and Administration Board and aligned with Guyana’s legal and regulatory standards. This ensures fairness, accountability and alignment with national development goals.

The electricity sector currently presents significant opportunities for investment and collaboration with the U.S. and other global partners. GPL remains committed to working with companies that share its values of integrity, innovation and sustainability.

What long-term vision do you hold for GPL and Guyana’s energy sector more broadly? What are the biggest obstacles to making that vision a reality?

My vision for the GPL is to transition the power system toward a modern smart grid capable of meeting the nation’s growing energy needs with reliability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This transformation is pivotal to building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable energy system that supports Guyana’s long-term development goals and aligns with the LCDS.

The most pressing challenge we face today is keeping pace with rapidly increasing electricity demand, driven by economic growth and industrial expansion. To address this, GPL has undertaken substantial investments in generation capacity, grid infrastructure and digital technologies. As a government-owned utility, we continue to benefit from strong strategic support from the government of Guyana, ensuring access to the resources needed for long-term sustainability.

Our immediate priority is to deliver power that is not only dependable and efficient, but also economically viable. This includes expanding renewable energy, modernizing the transmission and distribution network and enhancing customer service through digital platforms. I remain committed to work with the GPL Team to build a smarter, cleaner and more resilient energy future, driven by innovation, partnerships and a skilled workforce.

What is your final message to the readers of the Miami Herald?

Guyana is not just growing — it is transforming. Guyana has recorded the highest real GDP growth rate in the world. This growth is powered by a surge in oil production, which saw significant increase in real oil GDP in 2024 and a vigorous expansion in the non-oil sectors, including manufacturing, construction and services.

This economic momentum is underpinned by strategic public investments and a commitment to sustainable development. As demand for energy and infrastructure accelerates, Guyana is rapidly expanding its capacity. Major infrastructure projects are underway, new hotels and commercial developments are reshaping the skyline and the manufacturing sector is scaling up to meet both domestic and export demands.

We are working tirelessly to support this momentum — modernizing the energy grid, enabling industrial growth and ensuring that businesses, consumers and stakeholders can thrive in this dynamic environment. Now is the time for investors to act. With a favorable economic outlook, a stable policy environment and vast untapped potential in both traditional and renewable energy, Guyana offers one of the most compelling investment landscapes in the world today. The foundation is strong. The opportunities are real. The future is Guyana.