THE Hinterland Electrification Programme (HEP) aims to complete a public awareness campaign which would promote the benefits of using renewable energy technologies (RET) in 2016.Hinterland Electrification Programme (HEP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Horace Williams made this disclosure during his presentation at the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s end-of-year press conference recently held at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

He said other aims for 2016 include: installation of four wind data collection equipment and the commencement of wind data collection at four sites on the coast; procurement and installation of solar PV community systems in at least 20 hinterland communities to support livelihood activities and provide energy for the enhancement of social services; and procurement and installation of the solar grid-tie systems on seven public buildings to demonstrate the benefits of utilising such systems.

Other goals include upgrading the generation systems at Port Kaituma and Mahdia to improve their reliability; extension of the electricity systems at St Cuthbert’s Mission, Siparuta, Orealla and Moraikobai to add more than 100 households on the grids; procurement of a generator and power transformer for Matthews Ridge, to improve system reliability; and construction of office buildings for Port Kaituma & Mahdia power utilities.

The CEO noted that, for this year, the HEP hopes to accomplish those projects that faltered during 2015 while intensifying the overall performance in 2016. Last year, over 6,000 households benefitted from solar power in the hinterland, Williams said.

He stressed that another successful project was the provision of two MVA power transformers to benefit the Mahdia Power and Light Inc. and Port Kaituma Power and Light Inc. In addition, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded a grant of US$5M for the Sustainable Energy Programme, aimed at promoting awareness of the importance of renewable energy, hiring of consultants to provide advice, installation of wind data collection equipment, installation of community-based isolated solar PV systems, and installation of grid-tie solar PV systems on seven public buildings in Georgetown.

Unfortunately, Williams reported, a number of the projects listed were not completed, due to delays on the part of the consultants hired. As a result, only $6M had been utilised out of the $40M that had been provided in the 2015 Budget.