AN agreement worth G$1 billion was signed on Wednesday between the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Farfan & Mendes Limited and SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L to construct solar farms at Lethem and Bartica.

According to the GEA, the agreement is for the execution of the engineering, procurement, construction and installation and commissioning of solar photovoltaic power plants, including Battery Energy Storage Systems for the hinterland at Bartica and Lethem in two lots.

The signing was held at the Office of the Prime Minister, in the presence of Mr. Derrick Cummings, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister; Dr. Mahender Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of the GEA; Mr. Martin Carto, Alternative Energy Manager of Farfan & Mendes; and SOVENTIX and Mfon Akpan Project Coordinator of Guyana Energy Agency.
From the eight companies, both local and international, which participated in the bidding process that commenced with the opening of bids on January 7, 2020, Farfan & Mendes Limited and SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L emerged as the winning bidder.

Farfan & Mendes Limited and SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L would have complied with all the requirements necessary for the execution of the project, inclusive of being substantially responsive to the terms and conditions of the bidding documents, and representing the lowest evaluated cost.

The total contract amount for the two solar PV farms at Lethem and Bartica is G$1.098 billion. The duration for the completion of the two sites is estimated at 330 days.
This project falls under the renewable energy solutions for the hinterland, which is one of the major components under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy (EMISDE) programme funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The renewable energy solutions for the hinterland seek to address the energy diversification policy goals of the Government of Guyana, by increasing the electricity access for the hinterland/rural areas with renewable energy solutions.

By the end of 2023, this programme will finance the investment in solar technology by providing a reliable electricity source to the expanding needs of power supply in the three hinterland townships currently relying on fossil fuel. This will involve the installation of three solar Photovoltaic farms in Bartica (1.5MW), Lethem (1.0MW), and Mahdia (0.65MW), totalling approximately 3.15 megawatts, and the implementation of a storage capacity to manage intermittence of these sources.

The GEA would like to thank all the companies involved in the bidding process, and looks forward to their active participation during the upcoming bidding process for the Mahdia solar PV farm.