To Provide Electricity to an Estimated 700 Mabaruma Residents of Mabaruma
GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana has completed its first ever solar farm and says the multi-million dollar project will provide clean and reliable electricity to an estimated 700 residents of Mabaruma, close to the Venezuelan border.
The authorities said that the GUY$264 million farm in Region One will cover 10 acres on Khan’s Hill and will provide power to Mabaruma and down to the Wanina area. Currently, the Mabaruma Power Company provides only eight hours of electricity per day. The project, which is expected to come on stream in August, is close to completion pending the arrival of some overseas materials.
“The lines are already being laid, it’s just to bring in the other input then we connect up, giving us an additional nine hours of current. This added to the eight hours that we have right now will give us 17 hours, out of 24 every day. We hope that by the end of August, it should be up and running,” said Mabaruma Town Mayor, Henry Smith.
The project, which started in 2017 is being executed by German company Meeco in three phases.
The government said that other solar farms are planned for Lethem in Region Nine, Mahdia in Region Eight and at Bartica in Region Seven.
“These farms are anticipated to generate 800, 400, and 1.5 kilowatts of electricity respectively. They are part of the government’s plan to move Guyana towards becoming a ‘Green State’ and serve to reduce the country’s fuel bill,” the government statement noted. – CMC
