…under the aegis of the Japan International Co-operation
Officials and managers in both the public and private sectors yesterday received tips on energy efficiency and conservation during a seminar held by the  Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), in collaboration with electric power utility of Japan, J-Power and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

The seminar aimed at the dissemination of technology and methodologies and discussions on these with the ultimate objective of achieving a comprehensive policy for self-reliant energy efficiency and conservation, particularly in the light of the upredictability of the prices for fossil fuels , the main forms of energy used in Guyana.

Held at Cara Lodge, it was declared open by Prime Minister Samuel Hinds in his capacity as minister in charge of the  GEA, with  the Japanese officials being  the main resource persons.

The Japanese specialists were Dr. Kimio Yoshida, Senior Coordinator of Environment and the Energy Business Department of J-Power Japan, the largest electricity provider in Japan; Mr. Niro Okamoto, Manager of Business Strategy and Power Engineering Office, International Power Business Developoment Department of J-Power; and Mr. Yukihiko Nakagawa, leader of Energy-saving Infrastructure Engineering Group, Environment & Energy Business Development Department.

Participants included representatives from Guyana Power and Light(GPL); the Environmental Protection Agency; Guyana Water Inc.; the Bureau of Standards; the Ministry of Public Works; the Public Utilities Commission; and the Mayor and City Council, among other public sector agencies and staffers of the GEA, including Chief Executive Officer Mahendra Sharma,  and private sector agencies including Cummings Electrical Services

Mrs. Sandra Britton, Head of the Energy and Statistics Division of the GEA said that the activity was in keeping with Guyana’s efforts to enhance the efficient and effective use of energy.
Giving a background to the seminar, she said that last year,  Guyana’s heavy dependence on imported petroleum-based fuels led to a consumption of approximately 11,600 barrels per day .
The role of the GEA was to ensure the rational and efficient use of imported petroleum-based energy resources, while encouraging, where economically feasible and environmentally acceptable, increased utilisation of indigenous new and renewable sources of energy.

She disclosed that historically,  Guyana’s energy efficiency programme has been based mainly on information disseminated through public awareness campaigns.

This awareness programme had been supplemented by  the distribution of 446,796 energy-saving bulbs to 110,000 households across Guyana, through the kind courtesy of the Cuban Government during 2006 and 2007.

It had also included sensitisation campaigns  for energy conservation   using radio, television and print media to disseminate tips, and more recently, the support of GPL to implement  pre-paid meters.

She said that many more persons   are making informed decisions on purchasing appliances, particularly those with the energy star labels, and  displaying awareness about the importance  of conserving energy in their homes.

The Japanese officials, the main resource persons at the seminar, spoke on Japanese energy and conservation policies.

These include an integrated system of regulation support and information; an energy-efficiency labelling programme for light bulbs; air conditioning  units; television sets and refrigerators; major energy efficiency and conservation technologies  and recommendations for Guyana.

During the opening session, Britton said that the officials are experts  and  locals stood to benefit greatly from their  visit and their sharing of the technologies which had led to a marked success in energy efficiency and conservation   in Japan.