Government has been investing funds into ensuring all Guyanese have access to electricity, and this has manifested through the implementation of the Unserved Areas Electrification Project in 2005 and more recently, the distribution of close to 11,000 solar panels to hinterland communities.

Today, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds attended the presentation of findings for the ‘Energy Access at Community level for MDG Achievement in the Hinterland’ done by consultants Andreas Karner from CON PLUS ULTRA and Robert Spitzer from EEREPAMI at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Brickdam. The overall goal of the project looks at the provision of energy to all hinterland communities by 2015.

Prime Minister Samuel Hinds is joined by UNDP- Resident Representative, Khadija Musa and Deputy Resident Representative, Chisa Mikami at the presentation of findings of the Energy Access at Community level for MDG Achievement in the Hinterland needs assessment.

This initiative stems from the signing of an agreement between the Government of Guyana and the UNDP for the implementation of the project.

To carry out the needs assessment of the villages, which forms the base of the report, the team visited 22 of 58 villages in Region One and 8 out of 18 in Region 7 where they interacted with the residents to determine their energy related needs. This aspect was done in conjunction with the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs which suggested the two regions.

The results of the assessment will inform the development of specific interventions and additionally it also influences the resource mobilisation strategy to address the energy needs.

It was highlighted that the potential sources of generating energy in the hinterland are solar, hydro, wind and biomass. Currently, fuels such as diesel, gasoline, kerosene, gas and firewood are the energy sources in use. Firewood is being used mainly for cooking purposes.

Some of the energy production facilities include community and private generator sets and solar home systems. The assessment found that fuel costs increase steadily with the remoteness of the communities as there is limited availability of fuel, and energy costs consume 30-75 percent of household income. In this regard, alternative solutions of renewable energy from local sources will see the reduction of energy costs for the household.

The basic needs identified by the communities visited include the improvement of public infrastructure to satisfy increasing energy demand, living conditions, educational facilities and development of business activities. These needs also set the pace of the proposed next steps.

The consultants provided recommendations which highlighted that Guyana has sufficient renewable energy potential available to provide energy to hinterland communities.

It recommended consideration of the next steps towards demonstration projects, creating business cases for replication (technology and financing) for detailed implementation path by 2015,  developing proven, high-quality technology concepts then roll-out and supporting awareness raising on new technologies especially at the community level.

Hinterland homes with solar panels

Prime Minister Hinds reiterated that energy generation is quite important for Guyana and developments to improve the service have been made including the introduction of the photo-voltaic systems and mini-hydros in the hinterland.

He noted that recently he and Head of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Mahendra Sharma attended a seminar in India and it is hoped that from that experience some examples can be replicated in Guyana.

UNDP- Representative, Khadija Musa recognised that energy is important to various aspects of life, and in the particular meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). She pointed out that the Secretary General had launched the Sustainable Energy for All initiative over a year ago with over 60 countries signing on.

Musa stated that Guyana is in the lead of this initiative which enables the sustained provision of energy to remote communities.

She emphasised that the unavailability of energy sources impacts every sector in development and without such the MDGs cannot be achieved.

The implementing agencies are the Office of the Prime Minister and the GEA.

The Hinterland Electrification Unit had targeted distribution of 11,000 solar panels to remote communities and those that are far from the national grid. Most of these have been handed over to beneficiaries.