–President Ali announces, says 1.5-megawatt solar farm saving over 6000 drums of diesel, eliminating 11,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide

PRESIDENT, Dr Irfaan Ali has announced a 25 per cent reduction in electricity rates for households in Bartica, Region Seven.
Speaking at a community engagement on Monday, President Ali said the recently operationalised 1.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm is now supplying power to Bartica, following an investment of more than $703 million.
The 1.5-megawatt solar PV farm is now supplying electricity to Bartica. This was an investment of more than $703 million This investment has resulted in this output of 6,148 drums of diesel, and of course we measure the emission that it eliminates, 11,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide,” he told residents, adding:
“Your electricity rate will be reduced by 25 per cent in your first trance [sic] as you move up to the 50 per cent across the country.”
The investment is expected to benefit more than 5000 households across the township, which is a central hub for mining and manufacturing in the region.
He explained that the project significantly reduced fuel consumption and emissions in the regional grid.
Linking the initiative to the government’s manifesto commitment, President Ali stressed that his administration is delivering on its pledge to cut power costs nationally.
The President used the announcement to reinforce a message of trust in the current administration, describing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as a reliable partner for citizens.
“If there is one government, one administration you can trust, it is the People’s Progressive Party… we are not fair weather, we are there for every weather. We are not fair weather, we are fair for everyone,” he declared, to applause from the audience.

The measures form part of the government’s wider programme to expand renewable energy, cut emissions and ease household expenses in hinterland and riverine communities such as Bartica.
The solar farm was commissioned back in 2023 and constructed with the support of the Guyana Energy Agency, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), under the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL) at Dagg Point.
The 1.5 MW PV Plant at Bartica was designed to accommodate increased levels of solar PV penetration as Bartica’s load grows. At maximum capacity, the system will generate and supply a total of 1,988 MWh to the grid, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 4,500 drums of diesel consumption and a 1.5-million-kilogramme reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
“We are a government that is continuously on the ground, continuously mixing… We don’t manage from a high place, we manage from the ground. That is why we’re out here. So we know the challenges, and that is why we are addressing these challenges in a direct way,” Dr Ali said.
Guyana has rapidly expanded its energy infrastructure. Under its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) the country has taken a transformative approach to energy that seeks to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, by diversifying energy sources and ensuring affordable, reliable energy access for all Guyanese.
The aim is to integrate renewable resources such as solar, hydro, wind, biomass, and natural gas to meet growing energy demand, while keeping emissions low.
Further, the 300 MW Wales Gas to Energy project, Guyana’s largest infrastructural initiative to date, aims to reduce electricity costs by 50 per cent and support domestic production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cleaner household cooking.
Beyond immediate energy benefits, the GtE project is expected to enhance industrial competitiveness and strengthen the country’s energy mix.