Latin American and Caribbean governments must collaborate on long-term energy planning to meet rising electricity demand and climate risks, Prime Minister Mark Phillips said.

Speaking at the Ministerial Dialogue of the 11th Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) Energy Week, Prime Minister Phillips said economic growth, industrialisation, urbanisation and digitalisation will significantly increase energy requirements across the region.

"The energy system of the next decade must be more diversified, more resilient, more efficient, more digital and increasingly low carbon. This requires us to plan not only for today's needs, but for the economy and society we expect to have 20 or 50 years from now," he said.

He said Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 guides a diversified supply of natural gas, hydropower, solar, wind and other technologies.

"Guyana is an emerging oil and gas producer and, simultaneously, a country with approximately 85 per cent forest cover and a longstanding commitment to low-carbon development. We do not regard these realities as contradictory. Rather, our responsibility is to manage our natural resources strategically and sustainably, and to use them to accelerate national development and the transformation of our energy system," he said.

Renewable energy projects implemented or committed between 2020 and 2026 total G$37.717 billion in investment, he reported. They have lifted installed renewable capacity by 623 per cent, from 5.35 megawatts (MW) in 2019 to 38.72 MW in 2026.

The projects include 13 utility-scale solar photovoltaic farms, 57 solar mini-grids and three hydropower plants. They also cover 37,730 solar home energy systems and 239 rooftop solar systems on public and community buildings. Projects committed through 2031 are expected to raise capacity to 77.14 MW, almost double the 2026 level.

Prime Minister Phillips said natural gas will replace more carbon-intensive imported fuels used in power generation, improving energy security and supporting lower electricity costs. Renewable energy development and battery storage will continue to expand.

He said grid modernisation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) can improve energy planning, demand forecasting and predictive maintenance. He cautioned, however, that growing use of AI and data centres will drive up electricity demand and require greater investment in cybersecurity, data governance and technical expertise.

On the just energy transition, he said expanded access must bring tangible improvements to people's lives.

"We must ensure that hinterland, riverine and Indigenous communities, vulnerable households, workers and businesses are not left behind. This requires expanding access to reliable and affordable energy, creating opportunities for local employment and enterprise, investing in skills and technical capacity, and ensuring meaningful community participation in energy development," he said.

Decentralised renewable systems are already transforming communities by supporting education, healthcare, communications, entrepreneurship and local economic activity, he said.

On regional integration, Prime Minister Phillips highlighted continued collaboration through OLACDE on innovative financing, climate-resilient infrastructure and, where feasible, wider energy interconnection. He said Guyana is committed to working with regional partners on a shared energy agenda that balances economic transformation, environmental sustainability and improved livelihoods.