$54M to fix low voltage issues in several regions
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, November 1, 2018
The sum of $54M has been approved in the National Assembly to facilitate payments under the rehabilitation of low voltage distribution network in selected communities in Regions Three, Four, Five and Six.
During the 98th Sitting of the National Assembly, Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson stated that the monies will also be used for consultancy programme evaluation. These initiatives fall under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan operation 2567/BL-GY.
Additionally, the ministry is going ‘green’ with the use of solar panels on the ministry’s documentation centre. A sum of $20M was approved for this move to facilitate all the modification of roof design to accommodate the installation of solar photovoltaic system, as well as redesigning of internal walls for the construction of the documentation centre.
“This is consistent with government’s renewable energy initiatives. It was decided that for energy efficiency we should incorporate solar panels and the use of natural lighting which will be more cost efficient hence the need for the additional $20M,” Minister Patterson explained.
It is anticipated that with the installation of the solar panels, the energy cost to the grid would see a 30 per cent reduction per annum and 492,000 kilowatts per year.
Ranetta La Fleur.
Image by Keno George.