$7.2B Japan loan to fund new Diamond water plant
Residents of Diamond and nearby East Bank Demerara communities are set to receive improved access to safe drinking water following a $7.2 billion concessional loan agreement between Guyana and Japan to upgrade water infrastructure in the area.
The agreement was signed in Georgetown by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and Japanese Ambassador Umezawa Akima, clearing the way for construction of a modern Surface Water Treatment Plant at Diamond.
The project forms part of the Guyana Climate Resilient Water Supply Improvement Programme, being implemented by Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) with support from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Speaking at the signing, Todd pointed to Diamond’s rapid growth and said upgrading water treatment infrastructure is essential to sustaining development and improving living standards. He noted that reliable water supply is a core requirement for economic resilience and urban expansion.
The minister also highlighted Guyana’s long-standing development partnership with Japan, noting that recent years have already seen the delivery of several large water treatment plants across Regions Two, Three and Seven under the same programme.
Ambassador Umezawa said the project reflects Japan’s commitment to supporting Guyana’s development at a time of accelerated economic growth, particularly by modernising ageing water infrastructure. He noted that Japan’s experience in delivering universal access to clean water, along with advanced treatment and metering technologies, can help Guyana build a more sustainable system.
Once completed, the Diamond facility is expected to significantly improve water supply along the East Bank corridor, reduce reliance on groundwater sources, and strengthen climate resilience. The wider programme also includes new transmission mains, upgraded intake infrastructure, and measures to reduce non-revenue water through improved monitoring and management systems, according to GWI.
