Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips affirmed the Government’s commitment to delivering equitable and sustainable development while overseeing the contract signing for the Linden utility-scale solar project—the largest renewable energy initiative of its kind in Guyana.
The 15-megawatt (MW) installation—comprising three solar farms at Block 37 (4 MWp), Dacoura (3 MWp), and Retrieve (8 MWp)—forms part of the Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic (GUYSOL) Programme.
The project includes an 11 MW / 22 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at the new Linden Electricity Company Inc. (LECI) substation, a new 13.8kV transmission line, and upgrades to interconnection infrastructure to improve electricity stability in Region Ten.
According to the Prime Minister, the Government is continuously working for the people of Guyana.
“This is the Government that made a promise to bring development and to improve the livelihood of all the people of Guyana, wherever they live, wherever their community is located, whoever they voted for—we are not interested in that. What we are interested in is bringing five years of development to the people, and this is testimony to our commitment to the people of Guyana and the people of Linden.”
Prime Minister Phillips went on to explain that the GUYSOL project is being funded through resources Guyana earned under its forest partnership with Norway, which secured US$220.8m for climate-related investments.
The Prime Minister added that the Government is using some of the funds to develop sustainable energy initiatives nationwide. He noted that after funding was utilised for Amerindian land titling, home solar equipment for indigenous communities and hinterland ICT access, the Government decided to allocate US$83.8m from the remaining funds to develop utility-scale solar projects across the country, with the Linden solar project being the largest such installation in Guyana’s history.
The Linden solar project, valued at US$22.58m, is expected to produce more than 20,210 MWh of clean energy annually, contributing to an estimated $1.2bn in savings on electricity subsidies while mitigating over 17,200 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year.
Prime Minister Phillips reaffirmed the Government’s broader renewable energy vision: “In the next development cycle… we will be building out a transmission line to also connect Linden to the Demerara-Berbice Interconnected System. We will also be funding the Amaila Falls. That is a project that we committed to completing.”
In addition to infrastructure, the project places strong emphasis on social inclusion and local economic empowerment.
“There is a human side to this project,” Prime Minister Phillips said. “When we talk about renewable energy, we talk about just transition. The people aspect of renewable energy is captured in this project, where we have women who will be trained to work and to operate these facilities. We have youths who will be introduced through an apprentice programme… We are preparing them for the future.”
The Prime Minister also encouraged residents of Linden to view the solar project as more than just an energy solution but as a foundation for economic advancement. He underscored the need for citizens to leverage improved electricity access to create and expand micro-enterprises and small industries.
“What we need—and that’s the message we’re sharing everywhere in Guyana where we have similar projects—is for people to get involved in micro-businesses and utilise the power being provided. That is what, as a Government, we want to do—bring development to the people, wherever the people are located.”
Acting Chief Executive Officer of GPL Inc., Mr Kesh Nandlall, echoed similar remarks, stating, “This project is of critical national importance. The people of Linden—and indeed, all of Guyana—are counting on its timely and high-quality delivery. We expect strict adherence to the agreed timelines, the highest standards of engineering and safety, and full cooperation with GPL and local stakeholders.”
The solar installation will support the digital transformation of Linden’s electricity grid, shifting from manual analogue operations to real-time automated systems—improving reliability, monitoring and control.
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