Finance Minister reveals plan for renewable energy generation
THE Secondary Schools Debating Competition on energy conservation ended with two rounds at the Theatre Guild Playhouse, in Kingston, Georgetown, last week. A collaborative effort between Guyana Power & Light (GPL) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), it formed part of the Secondary Schools Education Programme on Energy Conservation.
Four schools vied for the champion’s trophy over several rounds of exchanges, with Queen’s College (QC) emerging winner.

Addressing the audience, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ashni Singh, then performing the duties of the Office of Prime Minister, emphasised that the occasion should be viewed as more than just a contest but rather as a mechanism for affecting cultural change.
He said the objective of the cultural change is best served by getting young people involved, as the Government of Guyana realises that energy responsibility starts with youth involvement.

In that context, the rivalry was included in the Unserved Areas Electrification Programme (UAEP), with support from the IDB, to spread the energy conservation message.

“We need to start with young people as it relates to the subject of environmental responsibility,” Singh said, adding: “They have the strongest reason for us to have a cleaner, greener planet decades from today.”

He said the sum of US$300M is being spent on importing fuel for the generation of electricity to meet the needs of Guyanese and, out of every dollar paid for the current, 60 cents is to pay for fuel and, in addition, one-third of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is for importing fuel for energy.

“I believe that there is much to be done to catalyse a change at all levels, especially domestically,” Singh said.

He said Guyanese need to understand the importance of environmental sustainability, having experienced climate change over the past decades, even before the concept of it emerged in the global lexicon.

“We have battled inundation and experienced the challenge of ensuring that we are protected from the sea to sustain our livelihood,” Singh observed, noting that the IDB has been an important partner in the UAEP.

“Government is concluding arrangements that will see us moving entirely from a country that generates all of its energy using fossil fuel to a country that will generate all of its electrical energy using clean and renewable sources (Amaila Falls Project),” he revealed.

Alluding to US$5M Energy Efficiency and Loss Reduction project, Singh said this is expected to be approved by the IDB next year and it will see additional critical investments in GPL to ensure a decrease in losses and an increase in efficiency.

IDB representative, Mr. José Manuel Ruiz pointed out that the world is facing a tremendous challenge in the realities of climate change and, as a result, the IDB remains committed to the conservation of resources in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The IDB is pleased to offer its support to the Guyana Government and to give support in the conservation of energy and towards energy management,” he assured.