Guyana, Japan ink $7.2B deal to upgrade water system in Diamond 

Residents in Diamond and surrounding communities on the East Bank of Demerara will soon benefit from safe drinking water following a $7.2 billion loan agreement between the Governments of Guyana and Japan to upgrade the infrastructure there.
The concessional loan document was signed on Thursday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd, and Japanese Ambassador to Guyana, Dr Umezawa Akima, during a simple ceremony in Georgetown.
This paves the way for the development of a state-of-the-art Surface Water Treatment Plant at Diamond. The project will be executed under the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme – an initiative being carried out by the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
During his remarks at the signing ceremony, Minister Todd noted that over the last six decades of cordial and fruitful interstate relations, Japan has always supported Guyana’s development by focusing heavily on ensuring the quality of life of every individual is catered to – something that aligns with the President Dr Irfaan Ali-led Administration’s people-centred vision.
Recognising that Diamond is a rapidly growing community, the Minister said the upgrade of the water treatment infrastructure there is critical. He posited that access to reliable water infrastructure is fundamental to building a competitive and resilient economy.
“Our diamond community is a growing community… It’s becoming a major hub, and if the community is growing, then we’ll have to upgrade infrastructure… The upgrade or improvements in water treatment in Diamond, I think, fit well in terms of our developmental plan and our urbanisation plan. And if we’re going to ensure that we improve the quality of life of every citizen, water is very, very vital,” Todd emphasised.

Large-scale water treatment plants
Under the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme, Guyana has benefited from four large-scale water treatment plants across the country over the last two years, including two in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), one in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) and one in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) – all built by the Japanese company Toshiba.
According to the Foreign Minister, this partnership is reflective of the Guyana Government’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Guyanese.
“We are very pleased to partner with the Government and people of Japan and the IDB in the Exchange of Notes and the signing of this concessional agreement, which paves the way for the implementation of this project. We can look forward to more initiatives, because Japan and Guyana will continue to have very strong and deep relations,” he noted.
Similar sentiments were expressed by the Japanese Ambassador to Guyana, who said this collaboration between two countries is aimed at not only creating a safer and more sustainable drinking water supply but also enhancing the healthy living environment.
Currently, Japan’s water supply system covers 100 per cent of its residents, providing access to safe and clean water to every household. The Ambassador noted that with Guyana now undergoing unprecedented economic growth, it is high time to rid the country of its aged water infrastructure.
With Japan having many state-of-the-art water treatment technologies, such as precise pipeline technology, the highest accuracy of metering devices, and the highly advanced sludge treatment technology – something which Ambassador Umezawa says can be passed on so that clean drinking water can be delivered to the Guyanese people.
“I sincerely hope that this project will also become an excellent endeavour that fully leverages Japan’s state-of-the-art technology and experience… This project today represents more than just an infrastructure; it is a symbol of gaining the power to create your future with your hands,” the Ambassador stated.
Once completed, the new Diamond Surface Water Treatment Plant will significantly enhance water access for thousands of residents along the East Bank corridor, ensuring a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient water supply system. The project will also reduce groundwater abstraction and improve climate adaptability through modern infrastructure and non-revenue water (NRW) reduction initiatives, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) said in a March 2025 statement.
Meanwhile, as part of the broader Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme, the project will be supported by key infrastructure investments, including investment in water treatment and transmission, which seeks to construct a modern water treatment facility, raw water intake infrastructure, and 30 kilometres of new transmission mains.
Further, a significant investment in a non-revenue water reduction plan is expected to introduce smart metering, hydraulic modelling, and network upgrades to improve efficiency. Finally, GWI will strengthen operational management and revenue collection through modernised systems aiding digital transformation.