Grove excavator mishap plunges sections of Guyana into darkness

May 18 2026

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) says an excavator operating at Grove, East Bank Demerara, was responsible for a major power disruption that affected sections of Demerara and Berbice earlier today.

According to GPL, technical teams determined that the excavator came into contact with a transmission line, resulting in disturbances across the electricity network.

The company said approximately 95 per cent of affected customers have since had their power restored, while work continues to return electricity to the remaining affected areas as quickly and safely as possible.

GPL has launched an investigation into the incident and indicated that the contractor responsible for the excavator will be pursued for compensation to cover damages caused to the transmission infrastructure.

The power company apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused and thanked the public for their patience during the restoration process.

On April 26, a similar incident involving an excavator operated by the China Railway Group struck a power line at Dennis Street, Sophia, triggering a major power outage that affected thousands of consumers across the country.