PM Phillips announces solar farm for Batavia

The indigenous community of Batavia, Region Seven will soon have its own solar farm. The disclosure was made by Prime Minister Mark Phillips during a recent meeting in Dagg Point while on a one-day visit to Bartica.

“Recently we have agreed upon a solar project for Batavia, so you will have your own solar project too. That project is designed to have a solar farm that will provide electricity for all the households in Batavia. All you are required to do is to wire your homes so that you can receive the energy, that is all you are required to do,” Phillips said. The PM disclosed that the establishment of the solar farm will make it two of its kind in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region, added to the 1.5-megawatt solar farm soon be completed in Bartica. He said that the $600M project which is on track to be handed over to government on June 1, will aid in the overall development of the town.

Phillips noted that the solar farm would reduce fuel costs while also aiding in the transformation from fossil fuel to greater use of renewable energy, thus reducing Guyana’s carbon footprint, which is in keeping with Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030. The senior government official stressed that the solar farm in Bartica is being constructed by Farfan & Mendes Limited and SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L. he said that it comes under the renewable energy solutions for the hinterland, which is one of the major components under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the Department of Energy programme funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Phillips noted that a 1.0-megawatt solar farm is also being constructed in Lethem, Region Nine. He revealed that in budget 2022, the sum of $1.4B has been allotted for 33 MWs solar farms for Berbice, Essequibo, and Linden.

PM Phillips pointed out that the establishment of solar farms around the country forms part of government’s plan to reduce the cost of energy by 50 per cent. He revealed that $29.4B is allotted to Guyana’s energy sector, with $20.8B earmarked for the Gas-to-Energy in budget 2022. Phillips The gas to shore project encompasses the establishment of a power plant to generate 300 MW of power as well as a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) plant that will cover domestic demand.

Phillips noted that the construction of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is also expected to commence this year producing an estimated 165 MW. Additionally, he said that a total of $170M has been budgeted for the completion of the 150kW hydropower scheme at Kato and for 30,000 photovoltaic home systems for hinterland and riverain areas.