QAZAQ GREEN.  Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips on October 23 commissioned three solar farms in the villages of Katoonarib, Potarinau and Shulinab in the country’s Region Nine, providing electricity to around 1,600 residents, iNews Guyana reported.

The solar system in Katoonarib cost approximately G$33 million and comprises 41.5 kW of solar panels and 187 kWh of battery storage. It will supply electricity to key public buildings, including health and educational facilities, improving healthcare, supporting learning and creating opportunities for small-scale economic activity.

Addressing residents, Phillips said the investment means more than just electricity. He described it as part of President Irfaan Ali’s commitment to ensuring that development reaches communities across Guyana regardless of their location. Katoonarib is among 56 villages benefiting from similar solar energy projects under Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.

In Potarinau, a solar mini-grid also worth G$33 million was commissioned. It will serve around 685 residents in 123 households. The system comprises 41.5 kW of solar capacity and 187 kWh of battery storage, powering schools, the health centre, village offices and other community facilities.

Phillips noted that eight villages in Region Nine are benefiting from similar projects under the 2025–2026 programme. He said that better access to electricity, combined with internet connectivity, will create more opportunities for education, professional development, agriculture, agro-processing and small businesses. The prime minister urged residents to take ownership of the facility, noting that with proper care and periodic replacement of components, the system could serve the community for more than 20 years.

The third solar mini-grid, worth G$44 million, was commissioned in Shulinab. It comprises 46 kW of solar capacity and 208 kWh of battery storage and will supply electricity to essential public buildings, including educational and healthcare facilities. Pointing to other projects in Shulinab, including a new secondary school, improved roads and an ICT hub, Phillips said access to electricity and the internet will strengthen healthcare and education and create opportunities for economic development.

The prime minister was accompanied by Mahendar Sharma, CEO of the Guyana Energy Agency.