THE Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is funding a US$17, 812, 237 project here geared at introducing renewable energy.
The project will see an improvement in the efficiency of the city’s power system through the enhancement of substation and distribution equipment, as well as the establishment of a photovoltaic (PV) system and an energy management system at the CARICOM Secretariat.

The grant-aid project, which was signed on Wednesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Japan’s Ambassador to Guyana Mitsuhiko Okada, will be executed by the Guyana Energy Agency with the main beneficiaries being the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) and by extension, Guyanese citizens.

It is expected that by 2023 or after three years of implementation, transmission loss will be reduced to about 1,600,000kwh/year through the provision of substation equipment and distribution lines, thereby leading to an improvement in the efficiency of the power system, JICA’s Chief Representative, Tetsuhiro Ike said Wednesday.

In the case of the CARICOM Secretariat, which is also a beneficiary, within the 2023 timeline it is expected that the energy generated by the PV system will be 600,000 kwh/year or more and the energy consumption at the CARICOM Secretariat will be reduced by approximately 70,000 KWH/ year.

In response to the announcement, Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Albert Gordon, said the new system will help his company reduce the number of power outages.

“Our top priority as we said is to reduce the number of outages and this particular project will help in terms of improving reliability and losses and also improving voltage levels. But it is part of a larger set of projects we are implementing, which will transform us into a much more reliable and efficient utility company,” said Gordon.

Additionally, it is expected that the challenges faced by CARICOM member states arising from vulnerability in terms of economic globalization and the influence of global warming will be reduced. Moreover, the Japanese government expects the project, which promotes the mitigation of climate change, to reduce carbon emissions equivalent to approximately 16000tons/year.

Additionally, some 10, 930 units of the LED street lamps valued at US$1,329, 984 will be used for replacement of the current street lights in selected areas as well as to aid in the improvement of the country’s energy initiative, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge said Wednesday at the signing and handing-over ceremony of the two Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) Projects.

“This assistance includes important projects such as the Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), Non-Project Grant Aid, Technical Cooperation Programmes, Technical Training, Technical Projects, and the Dispatch of Japanese expertise/volunteers in a variety of areas), amongst others. Some of them have been based in this ministry,” said the Foreign Affairs Minister.

Greenidge said that both Guyana and Japan continue to demonstrate willingness to further cooperation, and strengthen the interaction for the mutual benefit of both sets of people. He described Wednesday’s signing and handing-over ceremony as “an important step in cooperation,” which is indicative of the strong relationship the two countries share.
Guyana and Japan formally established diplomatic relations in 1967 and since then there has been extensive cooperation between Japan and the people of Guyana through Technical Cooperation, Finance and Investment Cooperation, and as well as Grant Assistance.

“These projects, I am happy to note, are not only clear manifestations of the excellent relationship that exists between our two governments, but just as significantly have contributed to the enhancement of Guyana’s social and economic development,” said the Foreign Affairs Minister.

Expressing gratitude, Greenidge said the renewable energy projects will assist Guyana with its development trajectory in the area of green economy.
“Both the project for the ‘Introduction of Renewable Energy and the Improvement of Power System’ and the ‘Procurement of the Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) street lamps’ will contribute significantly to our country’s Green State Initiative,” the minister stated.
Similarly, Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson, expressed gratitude to Japan’s government for providing US$1,330,000 for the procurement of 10,865 Gamma LED street lamps.

“Since the approval of this project in 2016, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure has been working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance and the JICA to finalise this supply project, so that these much-needed lamps would find their way onto the highways, roads, streets and communities that need them the most,” Minister Ferguson said.

The Minister disclosed that the 4716 LED street lamps will be installed throughout the 10 administrative regions in the ensuing weeks and months. A number of communities she said, have since been identified for first-time installment of the said lamps.
“This transformation will significantly impact our ‘Safer Roads Initiative’ as well as the general public security of the areas. When we examine our accident scoresheet, it is quite evident that the majority of our serious and fatal accidents occur after dark. The absence of street lights in many of these areas is seen as a major contributing factor.”
Ferguson noted that with the installation of more than 7,000 LED lamps along our major roads and highways and 2,000 in communities, there will be a reduction of serious crashes, damage to property, fatalities and a greater sense of security in our communities.
“Moreover, the transition from HPS (High Pressure Sodium) Lamps to energy efficient LED lamps will allow us to enjoy a 65 per cent reduction in our street-lighting energy consumption annually and allow us to dedicate scarce resources to other development areas. This project, may I also say, is squarely along the pathway of Guyana’s development towards a Green State,” the minister added.

Japan’s Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Mitsuhiko Okada, along with JICA’s Chief Representative, Ike lauded the strength of diplomatic relations with Guyana. Also present at the signing and handing-over ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was Ambassador Manorma Soeknandan, deputy secretary-general of CARICOM; Finance Secretary, Hector Butts; Head of the GEA, Dr Mahender Sharma and other representatives of the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Public Infrastructure.