“We must equip citizens to lead energy transition” – PM Phillips

…highlights green jobs as Guyana expands solar, hydro capacity

As part of efforts to transition to clean and renewable energy sources, the Guyana Government is building out the workforce that is needed to lead this transformation.
This is according to Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips during a presentation on Wednesday at the 2026 edition of the Guyana Energy Conference being held in Georgetown under the theme “Building Tomorrow’s Future Today.”
According to Phillips, clean and renewable energy development goes far beyond technology and infrastructure but includes ensuring equity and opportunity for every citizen. This, he noted, requires creating opportunities through green education and training in renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies in order to equip a new workforce to lead innovation and progress amid an evolving energy landscape.

“Our Government has been advancing initiatives with the University of Guyana and through the GOAL – Guyana Online Academy of Learning – platform to develop the skilled labour force needed to drive this clean energy transition. From engineers and technicians to environmental scientists and policy experts, we must equip our citizens with the skills needed to lead this transformation,” the PM stated.
The Guyana Government has been pursuing a clean and just energy transition through a diverse energy mix that includes natural gas and other renewable energy sources such as solar and hydropower, with potential also for wind and biomass – resulting in over 500 megawatts (MW) of newly installed capacity.
Against this backdrop, PM Phillips underscored the importance of the international community supporting energy transition, especially among developing countries like Guyana.
“No country can navigate the energy transition alone. Global cooperation is essential. Climate change is a shared challenge, and sustainable solutions require shared responsibility. Developing countries like Guyana must be supported with access to financing, technology transfer, and technical expertise to accelerate the transition to clean energy.”
“We call on our international partners to continue strengthening collaboration in these areas. Investments in renewable and clean energy, climate adaptation, and sustainable infrastructure are investments in global stability and shared response and shared prosperity,” he posited.
In the same breath, PM Phillips, in recognising that the private sector plays a critical role in driving innovation and scaling solutions, welcomes responsible investment that aligns with its national priorities and supports sustainable development.
“We believe in partnerships that are transparent, mutually beneficial, and grounded in long-term vision. To investors and partners gathered here today, I wish to declare that Guyana is open for sustainable business. We are actively building a future where energy development is guided by responsibility, innovation, and environmental respect,” he asserted.
Already, the local private sector has been demonstrating this shared commitment to push renewable energy in the country. In Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc will be constructing a 10-MW solar farm to support its bauxite operations there. That solar farm project is set to become operational by the end of 2027.
Similarly, Aurora Gold Mines (AGM) is also slated to complete the construction of its own solar farm at its Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) mines by the end of March, generating some four to five megawatts of clean energy at that location.
These will complement solar farms constructed by the Government across the country at Onderneeming, Charity, Leguan, Wakenaam, Trafalgar, Prospect, Hampshire, Bartica, Mahdia, and Lethem.
Moreover, some 46 solar mini-grids in the hinterland, mainly Amerindian, communities were installed. A further 7,250 solar-powered home systems have been distributed, resulting in the addition of over 40 MW of renewable energy, mainly in the hinterland area, benefiting over 120 Guyanese.
In 2026, the installation of 10 new solar mini-grids will be completed, benefiting over 6200 households in hinterland and riverain communities. The distribution network in Maburuma, Mathews Ridge and Port Kaituma will continue to be upgraded to benefit over 2600 households and businesses in those communities, while the ongoing construction of a 15-MW solar farm in Linden will be completed in 2027.
Additionally, mini-hydro power plants were constructed at Moco Moco, Kumu, and Kato.
PM Phillips says that this year, the Government plans to install an additional 100 MW of solar power, while at the same time advancing the 165-MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project and upgrading the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Transmission and Distribution Network.
Since August 2020, the Guyana Government has added over 186 MW of new generating capacity to the GPL integrated system and commenced upgrading its transmission and distribution network.
This year, some $119.4 billion was allocated in the national budget for the continued implementation of Guyana’s energy strategy with the aim of providing adequate electricity to meet the rapidly growing energy needs, addressing affordability and reliability concerns, developing a diversified energy mix, and fostering energy security and resilience.
Driving this vision is the construction of natural gas-fired power plants, totalling 600 MW under Phase I and Phase II of the Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project at Wales, West Bank Demerara, which will significantly reduce emissions from the power sector and lower electricity costs for consumers by at least half. The first 300 MW of natural gas plants will be commissioned in the last quarter of this year.