SIX thousand homes in 25 hinterland communities across Guyana will receive solar home systems following the Ministry of Public Infrastructure’s launch of the Sustainable Business Models for Rural Electrification and Energy Access in Guyana project.Spearheaded by that Ministry’s Hinterland Electrification Unit (HEU), the project was launched yesterday at the Cara Lodge in Quamina Street, Georgetown, in collaboration with the not-for-profit company CARIBSAVE and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), a member of the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Group.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MPI), Annette Ferguson, deemed the event a significant one, given that over 80 per cent of the hinterland communities have no access to electricity. This, she said, is in stark contrast with the coastland, which boasts a nearly 100 per cent electrification rate.

Noting that this glaring disparity needs to be rectified, Minister Ferguson said that government has accordingly allocated $110M to the MPI in this year’s budget for this undertaking.

“The imbalance is glaring; it is no secret that the hinterland remains the reserve of Guyana’s wealth. Therefore, if we can create the infrastructure that will improve energy availability for rural communities, the result will be a win-win for everyone,” Minister Ferguson said. She added:
“Rural electrification improves social, environmental and economic parameters of rural livelihood.”

She said the surge in renewable energy sources will lead to an overall positive impact on the environment. “Energy is so critical for our survivability (that) its inaccessibility should be treated as a human rights’ issue,” she said.

Minister Ferguson said the project will bring drastic improvement to people’s lives and communities through the improvements of public infrastructure, living conditions, and health and education facilities; through the provision of income-generating opportunities; and through the building of capacity for improved energy services.

According to CARIBSAVE’s Caribbean Regional Director Judi Clarke, Guyana is the newest home of CARIBSAVE, thanks to its new Georgetown location. The company has, over the years, focused on a number of areas, including climate change; risk and resilience; biodiversity; ecosystems and marine conservation; and low carbon development and renewable energy.

“Energy demands are growing worldwide, yet approximately 1.5 billion (people) have no access to electricity…. We are therefore very excited to embark upon this project,” she said.

The key objective of the project is to increase sustainable, affordable, and reliable access to renewable energy technologies to rural communities in Regions 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9, while ultimately improving the quality of lives of those living in the hinterland regions. The project is also an integral part of Guyana’s broader Sustainable Energy Programme.

The project will focus on the development of business models for solar photovoltaic systems which will be installed in community buildings in the 25 communities.

Additionally, community members and other energy sector agencies will be trained in technical, operational, social and environmental aspects of the project.

The MIF has contributed US$1.3M to the project, the total amount of which is US$1.7M, and its financing period will cover from 2016 to 2019. Currently, the 25 villages are being finalized, and will be chosen shortly. (Ministry of Public Infrastructure)