Guyana’s solar energy potential lauded as investors meet with MPI Ministers
Representatives from the Canadian company, Greenheart Tree Energy, lauded Guyana’s solar energy potential during a meeting with the Ministers of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure today, January 13, 2016.A team from Greenheart Tree Energy paid a visit to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure where they engaged the attention of Minister of Public Infrastructure, Honourable David Patterson; Minister within the Ministry, Honourable Annette Ferguson; and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Honourable Raphael Trotman.During the meeting, the Ministers were informed that the team’s visit to Guyana was in direct response to calls made by His Excellency, President David Granger, for members of the diaspora to invest in Guyana. It was also noted that President Granger had stated that the new Guyana Government would be one committed to a green economy.
“So, we represent two elements of the President’s vision for Guyana: one, the need for Guyanese to come and invest and two, a green economy for Guyana.”The company’s primary goal is to establish solar farms in Guyana to provide a better alternative for energy. Greenheart Tree Energy is also interested in the establishment of assembly plants for solar panels.According to the representatives, they have been to several areas in Guyana and have noted areas where significant improvements can take place. It was stressed that Guyana has great potential for solar energy but this potential has not yet been realised.The team also made a presentation to the Ministers which outlined their target projects. In the presentation, targets were clearly introduced, from the selection of sites right up to operation and maintenance.
According to Greenheart Tree Energy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Esmonde Klass, the company’s focus is on Guyana. “Our company was developed with the aim of serving Guyana and we’re keeping that as our primary focus,” he said. He further said that the team is made up of experts in solar energy who have had success stories across the world.“We think we have the resources, experience, and access to finances to make a difference,” Klass added.The team also had a focus on improving the skills of Guyanese and proposed the use of local workers to foster long term employment as well as technical skills.In turn, Minister Patterson expressed pleasure at the proposal and shared that Guyana has started to take the necessary steps to harness its renewable energy potential. He shared that as efforts begin for the harnessing of Guyana’s renewable energy potential, more companies will be able to bid for projects. The Ministers urged Greenheart Tree Energy to partake in this process when the time comes.
“This administration is one that prefers green energy,” Minister Patterson stressed. Towards this end, he said, Bartica will be Guyana’s first green town and from there the Government will move to other areas, including Berbice, Essequibo and Linden.“There has been tremendous interest from stakeholders for a green economy and we are committed to doing, at the end of the day, what’s best for our energy consumers.”The team from Greenheart Tree Energy will depart from Guyana this Sunday, January 17.
