More communities are expected to benefit from reductions in electricity costs in the coming months, as the government moves ahead with the phased implementation of its commitment to slash electricity prices by 50 per cent nationwide.
President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali said the reduction has already started in communities where investments in solar energy, battery storage and other renewable energy systems have helped to reduce the cost of electricity generation.
“We are fully committed to the reduction of that cost, and that is to bring it down by 50 per cent for consumers across the country,” the president said in response to questions by the media.
He explained that Bartica (Region Seven) and sections of Region One have already benefited from reductions, while other communities with renewable energy systems are being examined.
“In the coming months, there will be additional communities that will feel the first tranche of that reduction,” President Ali said.
There is already evidence of this approach in Bartica, where a 25 per cent reduction in electricity costs was announced earlier this year following investments in renewable energy.
The town is supported by a 1.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic farm, which has reduced its dependence on diesel for electricity generation.
The facility has displaced more than 6,000 drums of diesel. It is providing savings in the cost of generating electricity. Similar renewable energy investments have been made in other parts of the country.
In Region Two, a five-megawatt solar farm at Onderneeming was commissioned in November 2025. The facility is projected to generate approximately 7,700 megawatts of electricity annually and save about $447 million in fossil fuel costs per year.
Solar and battery storage systems have also been installed on Leguan and Wakenaam, reducing the islands’ reliance on diesel-generated electricity.
President Ali said these investments are now being examined to determine how the savings can translate into reduced electricity costs for consumers.
He also pointed to Lethem, where renewable energy forms part of the electricity supply, noting that analyses are underway to determine the initial phased reduction that can be applied to tariffs there.
“So, there are some communities that have already benefited,” President Ali said. “The consumers will definitely benefit tremendously from this phased reduction in electricity.”
The government has committed to reducing electricity costs by 50 per cent as part of its wider energy programme.
DPI
