GUYANA is at a turning point in its energy journey. With oil money changing the economy, and climate commitments becoming more important, the country now has a very important question: How will it power its future in a way that is sustainable, reliable, and fair?
The growing push for hydropower suggests that the answer may be, quite literally, in its rivers. Mahender Sharma, Head of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), has recently revealed plans to build more than 11 small-scale hydropower projects across the country.
These mini-hydro projects, especially in remote areas, are a practical way to diversify energy sources.
They deserve both praise and careful study. As Sharma correctly points out, hydropower is more reliable than solar and wind power.
In communities that are far away, and have limited infrastructure, reliability is not a luxury; it is a need.
The first results are good. In less than two years, the Moco Moco and Kumu hydropower plants in Region Nine have already replaced more than 17,000 drums of diesel.
This has lowered both fuel costs and carbon emissions. This is not a small thing. It shows that small, focused investments can have real benefits for the whole country.
These gains are good, but they also show a bigger truth: Guyana’s energy transformation won’t happen with just a few small projects.
It needs to be big, well-organised, and, most importantly, politically consistent. That leads us to the long-debated Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, which has become a symbol of both political division and the desire to use renewable energy.
Amaila has been stuck in a cycle of proposals, withdrawals, and restarts for more than ten years. Bharrat Jagdeo’s Low- Carbon Development Strategy first came up with the idea for the project.
It promised to provide 165 megawatts of clean, stable energy, which would have greatly reduced Guyana’s reliance on fossil fuels.
But just wanting it hasn’t been enough. Political gridlock stopped the project in its early stages, and opposition stopped important laws from being passed.
Later administrations weren’t able to get everyone on the same page to move it forward. Even recent attempts to bring the project back to life have hit snags, like failed negotiations with developers and the need for multiple rounds of bidding.
This stop-and-go method has cost a lot of time and investor trust, as well as the chance to change the energy system sooner.
The Government’s renewed push to move Amaila forward under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model shows that they understand that large-scale hydropower is still important to Guyana’s long-term energy security.
New technology may even let the project go beyond its original 165-MW capacity, making it an even more interesting idea.
But Guyana needs to deal with the same problems that stopped Amaila from happening in the first place if it wants to finally make it happen.
First, there needs to be real agreement among politicians. This kind of energy infrastructure can’t, and shouldn’t, be affected by the changing tides of partisan politics.
It needs a national approach that puts long-term growth ahead of short-term gain. Second, it is important for people to be able to see what is going on and trust the government.
Big infrastructure projects have effects on the economy, the environment, and society.
People need to know that decisions are being made in the best interest of the country, and that there are clear protections and ways to hold people accountable.
Third, it’s important to find a balance. Mega-projects like Amaila are game-changers, but they need to be paired with smaller, more decentralised solutions, like the mini-hydro plants that are being worked on now.
They can work together to make a strong, varied energy mix that can power both cities and rural areas.
Guyana’s rivers have a lot of potential. If used wisely, they can power industries, improve the lives of people in the hinterland, and make the country a leader in renewable energy in the Caribbean and beyond.
But just having potential isn’t enough. The real challenge isn’t putting up dams or installing turbines; it’s getting everyone on the same page, keeping discipline, and carrying out the plan with a clear goal in mind.
If Guyana can do that, hydropower won’t just light up homes; it will also show the way to a more sustainable and united future.