Guyana’s Lethem community in Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo) has avoided the use of more than 20,000 barrels of diesel through a hybrid energy system that combines hydropower, solar and diesel generation, according to the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA).
One barrel of diesel is equivalent to 42 US gallons, or approximately 159 litres.
Speaking on the July 30 edition of the Energy Perspectives Podcast, Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mahender Sharma said Lethem’s electricity supply is supported by two hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 2.2 megawatts, a one-megawatt solar facility, and diesel generation used as backup.
20,000 barrels is the combined savings of each new project since it was commissioned. According to the GEA, Moco Moco hydropower was commissioned on December 13, 2024. Kumu hydropower was commissioned on July 11, 2025.
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He said the project is currently Guyana’s only community-scale hybrid energy system.
“We are offsetting and displacing diesel use… In fact, the two hydros have been supplying most of the energy in Lethem. More than 60% of the energy comes from renewable sources for the town of Lethem. That is paired with a host of other initiatives,” Sharma said.
Beyond Lethem, Sharma said approximately 56 solar mini-grids are expected to be operating across hinterland communities by the end of 2026.
“These mini-grids are usually ground-mounted solar PV [photovoltaic] panels with a small room for batteries and a small distribution network, and we’re taking power to public and community buildings. That was also paired with another program that started in 2023 that saw the distribution of more than 37,000 small solar home systems for residents of those communities,” the GEA CEO explained.
The move also coincides with the Gas-to-Energy project, which is expected to give the nation 300 MW of reliable power. Scheduled to be operational by the end of 2026, the project will transport natural gas from ExxonMobil’s Liza field in the Stabroek Block to an integrated processing facility at Wales.
The initiative is projected to slash electricity costs by replacing imported heavy fuel oil with natural gas. It will further provide cheaper cooking gas, fertilizer, and opportunities to commercialize natural gas liquids.
