Residents of Bartica, Region Seven, will soon benefit from a 25 per cent reduction in electricity rates as government continues efforts to lower energy costs across the country.
The announcement was made by President Dr Irfaan Ali during a community engagement on Monday, where he highlighted the impact of the town’s solar energy project.
According to the President, the 1.5-megawatt solar photovoltaic (PV) farm at Dagg Point is now supplying power to the Bartica grid following an investment of more than $703 million.
“The 1.5-megawatt solar PV farm is now supplying electricity to Bartica. This was an investment of more than $703 million,” President Ali said.
He noted that the project has reduced diesel consumption and lowered carbon emissions, while paving the way for cheaper electricity for residents.
“Your electricity rate will be reduced by 25 per cent in your first trance [sic] as you move up to the 50 per cent across the country,” the President told residents.
More than 5,000 households are expected to benefit from the reduction.
The solar facility, commissioned in 2023 through a partnership between the Guyana Energy Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) under the Guyana Utility Scale Solar Photovoltaic Programme (GUYSOL), was designed to support Bartica’s growing electricity demand.
Government has repeatedly stated that lowering electricity costs forms part of its broader energy agenda, which includes expanding renewable energy sources and reducing dependence on imported fuel.
During his address, President Ali said the administration remains committed to addressing challenges faced by citizens through direct engagement.
“We are a government that is continuously on the ground, continuously mixing… We don’t manage from a high place, we manage from the ground,” he said.
The Bartica project forms part of Guyana’s wider energy transformation strategy under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which aims to increase the use of renewable energy while ensuring affordable and reliable electricity.
The strategy is being complemented by major projects such as the 300-megawatt Wales Gas-to-Energy initiative, which is expected to significantly reduce electricity costs nationwide while strengthening the country’s overall energy security.
