Project to power 30,000 households approved; entire Pomeroon to benefit

The entire Pomeroon area in Region Two (Pomeroon – Supenaam), which comprises many riverain communities, will benefit from solar power as the US $10 million line-of-credit to power 30,000 households was approved.

The project’s approval was announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali on Saturday during an engagement with residents at Charity, in Region Two, at a cabinet outreach there.

Among the concerns raised by residents at that meeting was the access to reliable electricity. In fact, one resident from the Pomeroon told the President that reliable electricity has been a challenge for many residents over the years.

In response to this concern, the President highlighted that the approval for the project that seeks to provide 30,000 new households with solar power units was recently granted.

“… and the Pomeroon area will be covered completely as part of that programme,” the President assured the concerned resident.

The programme the President was referring to is an electrification project scheduled for hinterland and riverain communities. As per the project proposal, each household is expected to have its own solar panel, an inverter, and basic fittings. This means that each household would be able to generate electricity on a self-dependent basis.

During his address to launch the month-long Amerindian Heritage observances in September 2020, the President had said that the US$10 million would be reprogrammed towards reintroducing solar panels, and the One Laptop per Family (OLPF) programmes in Amerindian villages across the country.

Subsequently, it was reported that approval for this project was needed from India since that country will be providing the funds to Guyana. With this approval now granted, the News Room understands that the local authorities can now work along with the Exim Bank of India for the pre-qualification of the project and later, start the works on the procurement of the equipment needed. (Vishani Ragobeer)