Home News COP27 Summit: Guyana will be vocal on need for just transition to...
– says Guyana doing everything possible to fulfil its climate pledge
A just transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, one that does not leave the developing world behind while the developed world continues to exploit its resources, will be a position articulated by Guyana at the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).
The conference takes place from November 6 to November 18, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. According to Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, Guyana will be standing with the developing world on the need for a just and equitable transition to renewable energy.
“We will be represented at COP. We will be speaking out, in solidarity with the developing world. There is one thing that is important. And we have to support the developing world on this. A just transition to clean energy.”
“Because we’ve seen some agencies, like the United Nations, have been calling for a ban on oil and gas production. And some other places,” the Vice President explained.
Jagdeo noted that these demands usually come from multilateral organisations who, unable to force the developed world to follow these directives, then try to stop the developing world from producing oil.
“We’ve had our battles here and our position is clearly outlined in our Low Carbon Development Strategy. Ultimately (decisions on fossil fuel) must benefit our people, as well as the world. It must be globally responsible. I think we’re practicing both.”
“We’re one of the few countries that have put a carbon tax on the oil and gas industry, flaring… and we’re pushing the countries to explore cleaner technology with every successive FPSO (Floating Production and Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel,” he said.
Jagdeo detailed other measures the Government has been pursuing, to ensure that Guyana can fulfil its climate change commitments. Guyana’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), envisions a plan to cut its emissions by 70 per cent by 2030.
“We’re working here, aggressively, on trying to make that happen. And hopefully, by the end of the year, we’ll see progress on that front. So, we’re not sitting down and waiting for progress at COP. We’re doing our bit, on climate change,” he said.
At the 26th session of COP last year, Guyana committed to reducing carbon emissions by 70 per cent by 2030. The cleaner energy mix to be undertaken involves the use of natural gas through a 250-megawatt plant, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This is in combination with the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) and solar farms.
The scope of the US$900 million gas-to-shore project consists of the construction of 225 kilometres of pipeline from the Liza field in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, where Exxon and its partners are currently producing oil.
It features approximately 220 kilometres of a subsea pipeline offshore that will run from the Liza Destiny and Unity Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessels (FPSOs) in the Stabroek Block to the shore. Upon landing on the West Coast Demerara shore, the pipeline will continue approximately 25 kilometres to the NGL plant at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
The pipeline would be 12 inches wide and is expected to transport some 50 million standard cubic feet per day (mscfpd) of dry gas to the NGL plant, but has the capacity to push as much as 120 mscfpd.
The pipeline’s route onshore will follow the same path as the fibre optic cables and will terminate at Hermitage, part of the Wales Development Zone (WDZ), which will house the gas-to-shore project.
The Guyana Government has invited interested parties to make investments in the WDZ, which will be heavily industrialised and for which approximately 150 acres of land has been allocated. Those lands were previously used by the Wales Sugar Estate.
Meanwhile, the revival of the 165-megawatt AFHP was one of the promises made by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic in its manifesto. The project was initiated under the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration but was scrapped by the coalition Administration which had controlled the National Assembly by a one-seat Opposition majority.
AFHP is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy that is affordable and reliable and is envisioned to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs while removing dependency on fossil fuels.
It is expected that the AFHP will be based on a BOOT model, wherein the company would supply electricity to Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Inc at a cost not exceeding US$0.07737 per kWh, and wherein the company would provide the entire equity required by the project and undertake all the risks associated with the project.
