Prime Minister Mark Phillips yesterday commissioned the 0.7 MW Moco Moco Hydropower Plant.
A release from his office said that he emphasised the project’s pivotal role in bridging the energy divide.
“This is another example of us delivering on our promise to bridge the development divide. More particularly, what we’re doing is bridging the energy divide.”
The Prime Minister said that the symbolic and practical significance of revitalising the long-dormant facility represents a broader effort by the Government to ensure that all regions, including hinterland communities, benefit from its developmental agenda particularly in relation to renewable energy.
“You’re making history,” the Prime Minister declared, adding “because for the first time in our country’s history, we have a hydro power plant, solar farm, and diesel generators working together to provide energy, and this is happening for the first time in Region Nine right here.”
Phillips explained how the newly recommissioned hydropower plant, now contributing 0.7 MW of power, integrates with Region Nine’s existing energy infrastructure. The region now has an energy system combining the hydropower plant with a 1 MW solar farm and 2 MW diesel generators, delivering a total capacity of 3.7 MW. This capacity is set to rise to 5.2 MW by February 2025 with the addition of the Kumu Hydropower Plant.
“In Lethem, at your maximum capacity right now, you are only using 2 megawatts. You will have almost two and a half times the amount of electricity that you can use right now… this is the development that we’re talking about, bridging the divide, the development divide, and we have successfully bridged the energy divide with this one project”, he asserted.
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to the Low Carbon Development Strategy and reminded of the goals for renewable energy adoption.
“By 2030, there’ll be greater use of renewable energy in Guyana. Most of the energy, more than 50% of our energy, by 2030 will come from the sun, will come from hydro (from water), will come from wind – as much as possible, less energy from fossil fuel, more from mother nature”, he stated.
The Prime Minister also announced Cabinet’s recent approval of four new solar mini-grids for the communities of Yupukari, Nappi, Awaruwaunau in Region Nine and Paramakatoi in Region Eight.
He also spoke to driving economic growth in the region through energy now available. Phillips urged the residents of Region Nine to capitalise on the opportunities created by the high levels of electricity, while highlighting the potential for cottage industries, particularly in agro-processing, to boost local economies.
“Start cottage industries—monetize what you already have,” he encouraged. “The wastage of mangoes and cashews can be turned into products in demand locally and internationally. This is how we create economic value from our resources”, he said.
The hydropower facility at Moco Moco was damaged by a landslide in 2003.
