“More energy we have, the more we can develop your community” – PM

…commissions solar farms, ICT hub at Annai and Karasabai

Two mini solar photovoltaic (PV) farms were on Friday commissioned in the hinterland communities of Annai and Karasabai in the northern sub-district of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), bridging the energy and digital divides for remote areas.
Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips commissioned the facilities and emphasised the importance of energy in community development.
He underscored, “Energy means everything to us, the more energy we have, the more we can develop your community. So, from the Government standpoint, I am really happy to be here today to be part of the development of your community. Our Government is committed to bridging the energy divide, in the sense that we want to bring energy to every community in Guyana.”
The solar grid installed in Annai is a 41.5kW (ground-mounted) PV Array comprising 83 – 505Wp solar PV modules. The system has 5 – 12kW hybrid inverters which control the charging of the 125.3kWh battery energy storage system.

Prime Minister Phillips also reopened the newly-rehabilitated Annai Community Centre Ground, which was completed at a cost of $5 million through the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry as well as the newly-built ICT hub under the Office of the Prime Minister’s ICT Access and e-Services for Hinterland, Poor, and Remote Communities Project.
He committed to having the ICT hub fully functional to assist residents in advancing their education through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) and other opportunities offered by the Government.
Moreover, Prime Minister Phillips assured residents of the Government’s commitment to working closely with regional and village councils to ensure continuous development in the region. He stressed the significance of ICT connectivity and internet access for all communities.
“We are committed to bringing development to your communities, we are committed to bridging the digital divide, because we feel that every community must have access to the internet, because the greater the access to the internet is the greater the possibility of integration of all our peoples.”
In Karasabai, the Prime Minister reflected on the Government’s comprehensive approach to development and noted that the focus is on “bringing development to the people of Guyana”.

Further, he encouraged residents to utilise the new energy source to develop the cottage industry and increase production.
He added, “You can invest in equipment that will utilise the energy to produce goods not only for your community but to sell. Whatever you want to produce in your village, so with increased energy resources, you can now increase your production to earn more money.”
The newly commissioned grid installed at Karasabai is a 46.5kW (ground-mounted) PV Array comprising 93 – 505Wp solar PV modules. The system has 5 – 12kW hybrid inverters which control the charging of the 141.41kWh battery energy storage.
Phillips also listened to the concerns affecting residents from both communities.
The head of the Guyana Energy Agency, Dr Mahender Sharma, provided an overview of the projects and spoke of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
This shift, he said, aligns with Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The mini-grid systems are configured as off-grid solar PV systems with battery energy storage systems with an associated electricity transmission and distribution network to link the communities’ public buildings.