The Norwegian Government has approved the transfer of US$80M which was set aside for the now cancelled Amaila Falls Hydropower project to other renewable energy projects.
Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson on Thursday disclosed that last week, the Minister in the Climate Mitigation Ministry of Norway wrote to confirm that Norway has agreed to transfer the sum to be used for the building of 30 megawatts of solar photovoltaic farms with storage.
“That is a significant boost for the company (Guyana Power and Light),” the Minister said.
Patterson noted that funding has also been approved from the United Arab Emirates to make Essequibo Island, Wakenaam, the first green area which will be off the grid system.
On July 5, 2018, Former Minister of State Joseph Harmon disclosed that Guyana and Norway have agreed on the expeditious release of 300 million Norwegian Kroners (US$37.2 million) for solar and other renewable energy projects in Guyana.
The funding includes reassignment of the sum which will come from the remaining disbursements of the US$250 million forest-saving deal with Norway under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).
The US$80M was tied to the Amaila Falls Hydro Project, which was being built by the former administration and has since been cancelled.
Harmon said there would be various sizes of solar farms which could amount to a total of 100 megawatts.
The projects will be constructed in the three new towns of Bartica, Lethem and Mabaruma, along with Mahdia and other interior locations.
The farms would be located close to sub-stations of the Guyana Power and Light company so there would be an easy connection to the national grid.
The Government of Guyana is moving towards close to one hundred per cent clean and renewable energy supply by 2025.
