Guyana has achieved much in expanding bio-energy opportunities - Minister Ramsammy – at Close-out symposium
A “Close-out” Symposium held at the Ministry of Agriculture today, heard of the objectives achieved six years after a Technical Cooperation Agreement – ‘Expanding Bio-energy Opportunities in Guyana” came into being, and which was spearheaded by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in collaboration with several other stakeholders.
The agreement which has ended, provided the assistance that was needed to enhance the capability of the government in defining a critical path for promoting the development of its agro-energy sector.
As an outcome of this project several achievements have been made, including the draft agro-energy policy being formulated, a bio-ethanol demonstration plant installed at the Albion Sugar Estate, 115 plus persons from 23 agencies have been trained in bio-energy areas, that exceeded its target by more than 60%, modules and manuals have been developed for utilisation in various technical institutes, financial instrument to promote investments in this area signed, visits by bio-energy investment delegations and project developers to Guyana and preliminary bio-energy projects identified.
Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy addressing
the participants at the symposium on “Expanding Bio-energy
Opportunities in Guyana”
In 2007, the Government of Guyana initiated the preparation of an agro-energy policy for the country as an indication of its commitment. This policy was in line with the sustainable and climate change initiative and also aligned with the global commitment to reduce green house gases and local pollution. As a result of this, the Technical Cooperation agreement was signed.
During his update on this project, Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy highlighted that this bio-energy project has had a lot of benefits for the country as, “Guyana has an opportunity to use agriculture to face the global challenge.” He added that Guyana has a bio-energy programme, and it is ready to expand and excel in this regard.
Stakeholders representing different agencies along with
Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy engaging in group
discussion at the symposium
Among the key objectives of this project were improving its capacity to identify and evaluate investment opportunities in the bio-energy production chain, capacity building and the transfer of technology, intuitional strengthening along with developing a financial vehicle to promote investment opportunities and developing a strategy to harness Guyana’s potential for bio-energy production.
Minister Ramsammy also highlighted that the bio-ethanol demonstration plant has thus far produced more than 1000L of fuel and it has the potential to produce more when utilised at its full capacity.
He said the industry is considering a 10% blend of fossil fuel and bio-ethanol gases, and one of the elements that can used to do so is sugar cane.
A demonstration of a bioenergy plant that can be used for
daily activities that was created by final year students of
the University of Guyana
The Minister said that Guyana still has the potential for sugar; which can be cultivated in the intermediate savannahs, specifically for the creation of bio-ethanol gases without shortening the demand for sugar.
They are also looking at the rice husk, which is a good agent for the production of bio-energy and palm oil which can be used for the production of bio-diesel.
The University of Guyana (UG) has also been playing a major role in this field. A PowerPoint presentation of a bio-energy plant that can be used for daily activities that was created by the institution’s final year students was also presented at today’s event.
The Ministry will soon be launching its own bio-digester for its kitchen and canteen. “It is an example of what can be done,” said the Minister.
The other partners in this project are Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP), the Inter-American Development Bank IIDB), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with support from the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Organisation of American States (OAS), and the Guyana Government.