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Hardly a day goes by in oil and gas producing Guyana and there is no power outage (blackout). In October 2020, Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who has responsibility for the electricity sector, outlined an ambitious plan for the energy sector, aimed at making blackout a thing of the past. But the frequency of blackout in the world’s fastest growing economy has forced many to rely on lamps or acquire their own generators. The prime minister’s ambitious and promise remain only that, so far- an ambition and a promise.
Inspite of not delivering, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government claims that with long-standing challenges of sufficient power supply in Guyana, achieving energy security has been a high priority.
This year government allocated almost $100 Billion of its $1.146 Trillion Budget to achieve its energy targets. In these first six months, $47.8 Billion was already invested in its pursuit of energy security outlined in the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
According to the government information department, with the burgeoning oil sector, naturally, the demand for energy has increased for both the domestic and manufacturing sectors. Former Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had lambasted the government for failure to anticipate the demands for energy with the new economy and plan accordingly.
Back in April, Patterson flayed the government for worsening the challenges in the electricity sector through poor decisions, such as the dismissal of seasoned technical staff and reliance on second-hand fossil fuel generation sets, leading to a marked deterioration in maintenance and operational capacity.
The former minister and sitting Member of Parliament, who had responsibility for the energy sector, last year, outlined a series of measures executed on his watch to ensure reliable supply, which included an impressive maintenance programme.
Short, medium, and long term plan
Government said in a bid to proactively address increase in demand for electricity in the short-term, some 28.9 megawatts (MW) of emergency power was installed at the Columbia substation. The country is also receiving a supply of 36 MW of power from a power ship which, connected to the country’s main interconnected system through Everton.
On the side of medium-term goals government has already spend $40.8 billion on the 300 MW Gas-to-Energy Project with works reportedly completed on 114 of the 371 pole foundations for the installation of transmission lines.
With respect to the long-term energy investment, government says the 165 MW Amaila Falls Hydropower Project remains under active consideration by the Guyana government. This project continues to attract criticisms for poor planning, from its inception, and wastage of taxpayers money, with the hefty price tag of more than US$840 Million, and nothing achieved.
Solar power and mini hydropower generating capacity
Government said works have advanced to improve solar power and mini hydropower generating capacity. In the first half of the year, a 0.65 MW solar farm in Mahdia was completed and is expected to be commissioned in the second half of the year.
Additionally, works for three solar farms will advance later this year, namely a 10 MW solar farm in Berbice, 8 MW solar farm in Essequibo and a 0.6 MW solar farm at Leguan. A total of 3,101 solar energy home systems were distributed in the first half of the year to support households in the off- grid and riverain communities. It is expected that 501 more will be delivered to Chenapao, Karisparu, Tuseneng, Maikwak and Cashew Island by the end of the year.
Planned also is the construction of the mini-hydropower plants at Kumu and Moco Moco, with capacities of 1.5 MW and 0.72 MW, respectively. Both projects are slated for completion by the fourth quarter of 2024. There are three months remaining in this year.
According to the government, contracts were signed to upgrade the primary distribution networks in Ituni, Kumaka, and Kwakwani, with work expected to be finalised by the end of the year. The upgrades are expected to enhance electricity reliability in these communities and provide access to over 475 new households.
These dollar investments have seen no significant change for consumers as power outages continue, unabated, unplanned/unscheduled. Meanwhile, Guyanese have had to curtail spending on perishable items, some have suffered damages to their electrical appliances from power surges and frequent outages.
