Govt expanding energy access in hinterland communities

…to purchase 10,000 more solar systems

In a bid to minimise the country’s carbon footprint while addressing energy disparity, Government will be procuring 10,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) home systems for use by hinterland households this year.
This announcement was made by Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips on the third day of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, being hosted at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.
While it was not disclosed how many families would benefit from this batch of solar PV systems, PM Phillips noted that the project, formally known as the “30,000 solar home systems project”, was designed to balance the energy gap between urban and rural areas while simultaneously propelling the nation towards sustainable, eco-friendly power sources.

PM Phillips has also informed that when the systems arrive in Guyana, they would be transported and subsequent installed in villages in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Two (Pomeroon -Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), and Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).
“The hinterland of Guyana now (has) electrical power through solar technology: where the schools have power; the health centres have power; the administrative offices, Police stations, resulting in us bridging the energy divide through the use of renewables…,” he explained.
“It is important to understand that Guyana is ready to forge steadily forward as a leader on sustainable development, and these are the initiatives that are contributing to this goal,” the Prime Minister has said.
During his remarks, the Prime Minister also issued a call for global leaders to mobilise themselves and raise awareness on the universal transition to clean energy.

He posited that clean energy is pivotal to Guyana’s energy transformation and long-term sustainability goals, hence the Guyana Government is will to work along with the world in order to achieve the goal of transitioning to renewable sources of energy.
Government has, so far, adopted robust policies, cost effective technologies and energy efficient solutions to provide the Guyanese populace with equitable and affordable access to clean energy.
“Guyana is mindful of its international commitments, including, as I mentioned before, the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. As a new oil producing country, we recognize the opportunity before us to demonstrate balanced, sustainable development that caters to the needs of our citizens,” PM Phillips said.

Energy Sector Budget
A total of $95.7 billion has been allocated in 2024 for the energy sector. Of that sum, $1.3 billion will go towards energy expansion and diversification. The 2024 budgetary allocation for the energy sector builds on the 2023 allocation of $59.3 billion. In this regard, the sum of $80 billion dollars is budgeted separately to advance the flagship 300MW Gas-to-Energy project; however, no money has been provided for the 165MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), given that four firms have submitted pre-qualification documentation, and these are currently being evaluated. Nevertheless, work on the mini-hydropower facilities in Kumu and Moco-Moco will move forward with $1.3 billion from this year’s budget.
Additionally, $4.8 billion has been provided to finance several solar power projects across the country. Further, to improve reliability by reducing the voltage drop and network losses, as well as provide access to electricity to over 475 new households, $180 million has been budgeted to upgrade the primary distribution networks at Ituni, Kumaka and Kwakwani. (Trichell Sobers)