Solar farm for Rupununi

President of the Rupununi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Daniel Gajie has praised
the PPP/C Government for taking significant steps to construct a solar farm in Lethem, Region
Nine which will provide reliable electricity supply there.
Gajie in an interview was reported as saying that this initiative not only aims to improve the lives
of the consumers, but fulfils one of the government’s plans to diversify its energy sources. The
Chamber President noted that the region’s electricity rates are among the highest in the country.
As such, he said, it provides affordability issues for both residents and the business community.
Gajie is therefore calling on the government to reassess the cost of electricity in the region after
the project has been implemented. “Electricity costs can sometimes be 20 per cent of one’s
income, which in any business is too high. So, we expect relief, not only with the quality of the
derivability of electricity supply but also our reduction in electricity costs which will allow us to
reduce prices for consumer benefits…so we are also pleading with members of government to
see what they can do to bring down the costs,” he said.
The RCCI President pointed out that the realisation of this solar farm will not only allow
businesses to reduce their production costs, but boost income. He added that it will also offer
some form of relief to its consumers, as promised by the government. Gajie stressed that with
this approach he firmly expressed the view that it is one of the many ventures that the Central
Administration intends to take to push the region’s development and by extension, the country.
As such, the Chamber President noted that once the farm is completed, the region intends to use
the supply solely during the day until further interventions are made from relevant stakeholders.
He said that in 2020, the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Farfan & Mendes Limited and
SOVENTIX Caribbean S.R.L signed a $1B agreement to construct solar photovoltaic farms at
Bartica, Region Seven and Lethem, Region Nine. Gajie said that this agreement entails the
execution of the engineering, procurement, construction and installation and commissioning of
the power plants, which includes Battery Energy Storage Systems for the hinterland, especially
at Bartica and Lethem. He explained that Lot 1: The works are for the design, and procurement
of all materials and specialised equipment, and construction of 2.5km 13.8 kV, three-wire (3W),
three-phase, bare conductor overhead interconnecting transmission line for the solar PV plant at
Bartica. Lot 2: The works are for the design, and procurement of all materials and specialised
equipment and construction of 0.5km 13.8 kV, three-wire (3W), three-phase, bare conductor
overhead interconnecting transmission line for the solar PV plant at Lethem.
The RCCI President declared that the project falls under the renewable energy solutions for the
hinterland, a major component under the Energy Matrix Diversification and Strengthening of the
Department of Energy (EMISDE) programme funded by the Inter-American Development Bank
(IDB). He added that it will address the energy diversification policy goals of the government, by
increasing the electricity access for the hinterland and rural areas with renewable energy
solutions.