–with commissioning of 1.5-megawatt Kumu Hydropower Station

PRIME Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d), the Honourable Mark Phillips officially commissioned the 1.5-megawatt (MW) Kumu Hydropower Station on Thursday in Region Nine (Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo), marking a major milestone in the government’s strategy to expand renewable energy and accelerate development in Guyana’s hinterland.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the initiative aligns with the administration’s national vision centred on energy security, food security and climate security — three strategic pillars guiding Guyana’s transformation.

On the platform of energy security, Prime Minister Phillips highlighted the evolving energy mix, noting the government’s progress in deploying a combination of gas-to-power infrastructure, solar farms and hydropower to reduce costs and expand access across all 10 administrative regions.

“From 2020 to now, we’ve delivered 14.5 megawatts of electricity through solar and hydro projects. Today’s commissioning of the 1.5 MW Kumu Hydropower Station builds on that foundation, expanding our renewable-energy portfolio while improving quality of life for residents in Region Nine.”

The Prime Minister described Region Nine as one of Guyana’s fastest-growing regions, with visible advancements across sectors, including energy, roads, education, healthcare and digital access.

“This project is not just about electricity. It’s about building a platform for progress — one that supports businesses, creates jobs, strengthens public services, and improves quality of life.”

He noted that the Kumu facility adds to the region’s growing renewable energy network, which includes the 0.7 MW Moco Moco Hydropower Plant and a 1 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) farm. Together, these provide a combined capacity of 3.2 MW. In a recent test, the Kumu and Moco Moco plants supplied Lethem with 100% of its electricity for a full 24-hour period using hydropower alone — a landmark in sustainability and reliability.
The Honourable Prime Minister said that the Kumu plant feeds directly into the Lethem grid, but announced the government’s plans to build a dedicated distribution network to bring electricity to Kumu Village homes and businesses.

“What we’re producing exceeds current demand,” the Prime Minister remarked, encouraging residents to prepare their homes for connection and entrepreneurs to leverage the surplus capacity for new ventures, particularly women- and youth-led enterprises.

He noted the importance of bridging the gap between hinterland and coastal communities, citing recent Starlink internet installations and scholarship programmes such as GOAL that enable students and teachers to pursue online education while remaining in their communities.

“What happens on the coast can now be achieved in the hinterland — longer study hours, greater productivity, and personal growth,” he said.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the positive ripple effects of improved energy access on tourism, education, healthcare, and employment. The Kumu Hydropower Plant has already created jobs for 20 residents, and young people are being encouraged to pursue STEM fields to capitalise on future opportunities.

Prime Minister Phillips also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to energy security and the development of tailored renewable solutions, working in partnership with the private sector to foster investment and growth in hinterland regions.

“Since 2020, we’ve made the right decisions that led to this project’s timely and budget-conscious completion. We now look forward to entering the second phase of development; elevating our progress even further.”

The Kumu plant is part of a dual hydropower project executed under a US$12.85m Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract awarded in November 2022 to Vidullanka PLC of Sri Lanka. The contract included construction of the 1.5 MW Kumu station (US$9.0625m), and rehabilitation of the 0.7 MW Moco Moco station (US$3.7875m).
Cummings Electrical was awarded a US$1.274m contract for the construction of a 16.84 km transmission line linking the Kumu plant to the Lethem grid, as well as installation of communication cables along the Moco Moco line. Both projects were completed on time and within budget, with no variations. (OPM)