Prime Minister Brigadier (Ret’d), Mark Phillips urged deeper regional cooperation and smarter procurement as Guyana advances a modern, diversified and resilient electricity system.
Delivering the feature address at the launch of the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation’s (CARILEC) Engineering and Procurement Conference and Exhibition 2026, held under the theme “Grid Modernisation and Resilience – Strategic Procurement in Focus,” the Prime Minister emphasised that reliable and affordable electricity is central to economic growth and improved public services.
“The decisions we make today will determine the country and region we become over the next 25 years”.
He outlined Guyana Power and Light Incorporated’s (GPL Inc) Development and Expansion Programme, highlighting investments in generation, transmission, distribution, grid digitisation, renewable energy and institutional strengthening. The Gas‑to‑Energy Project, he explained, is expected to add approximately 300 megawatts of capacity, reduce costs, improve reliability and support industrial growth.
Natural gas, he said, will serve as a bridge towards a balanced energy mix supported by hydropower, utility‑scale solar, battery storage, distributed renewables and emerging clean technologies.
By 2030, the Prime Minister projected that Guyana’s electricity system will be “fundamentally different, more diversified, more digital, and more capable of integrating renewable energy at scale.”
He noted that the Guyana National Control Centre, advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, automation and real‑time monitoring will underpin the transition to a smart grid.
Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Phillips stressed that procurement decisions must weigh not only cost but also quality, resilience, cybersecurity, efficiency and long‑term value.
“Strategic procurement is therefore central to modernisation. The lowest evaluated cost must also reflect quality, reliability, resilience, operating efficiency and long‑term value.”
He added that regional collaboration remains essential as Caribbean countries confront shared challenges — climate vulnerability, fluctuating fuel prices, extreme weather, rising demand, limited economies of scale and financing constraints. CARILEC, the Prime Minister observed, provides a vital platform for utilities, regulators, governments and partners to share standards, strengthen capacity, improve procurement, accelerate technology transfer and build partnerships.
Government’s commitment to ensuring modern and reliable energy services reach communities across Guyana — from urban centres to rural villages, riverain settlements and hinterland regions — was also highlighted.
Following the launch, the Prime Minister engaged with stakeholders and toured exhibits showcasing energy technologies and solutions available to Caribbean utilities.
CARILEC is an association of more than 100 energy solution providers and stakeholders in the Caribbean electricity industry. The Engineering and Procurement Conference and Exhibition, featuring approximately 150 exhibitors, runs from 26 to 30 July 2026 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.
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