A major early-morning power blackout disrupted service across multiple populated areas in Guyana’s Demerara region, including the capital city of Georgetown, on Sunday, after construction heavy machinery accidentally struck a critical high-voltage transmission line, state power utility Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has confirmed.
The outage was first reported at approximately 8:50 a.m. local time, when customers across Demerara began reporting sudden losses of electrical service. GPL emergency response teams were dispatched within minutes to inspect the L10 Transmission Line, a key connector between the New Georgetown and Sophia power substations, to trace the root cause of the disruption.
On-site investigations at the construction zone along Dennis Street confirmed that heavy construction equipment operated by China Railway First Group, which was carrying out road expansion projects in the area, had made physical contact with the energized transmission line, triggering the widespread outage.
In the hours following the incident, GPL crews have been working to secure the work site, move the damaged excavator, and complete repairs to the transmission infrastructure, with the priority of restoring full power service to affected communities as quickly as possible while adhering to strict workplace safety protocols.
Beyond the immediate inconvenience of the service disruption, GPL has highlighted the severe life-threatening risks that come with accidental contact with electrical infrastructure. The utility noted that incidents of this type not only cause widespread power losses and costly damage to the national power grid, but also put construction workers and bystanders at extreme risk of catastrophic injury or death.
In the wake of the blackout, GPL issued a urgent public warning to all private contractors, construction firms, and members of the public working or operating near overhead power lines. The agency urged all parties to maintain required clearance distances, strictly follow all national electrical safety protocols, and exercise extreme caution when working in proximity to transmission infrastructure. GPL also emphasized that any party found responsible for damaging critical national electrical infrastructure will be held fully legally accountable under Guyanese law.