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Table 4.2 Tax exemptions for agriculture, 2021
Legislation: VAT Act;
Exemptions: Zero-rating of certain agricultural inputs: (...) machinery, equipment, or components used in the generation of renewable energy in the agriculture sector using agricultural by products; (...)

4.23. Within the Ministry of Agriculture, the Fisheries Department is responsible for managing, regulating, and promoting the sustainable development of Guyana's fishery resources. A Fisheries Advisory Committee comprising representatives from the public and private sectors advises the Minister on all fisheries issues. (...)

4.29. The Ministry of Natural Resources has overall responsibility for forestry in Guyana, and the sector is regulated by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC). The GFC is entrusted with the mandate to ensure that Guyana's forest resources are sustainably managed and conserved. The Forest Products Development and Marketing Council (FPDMC), an advisory body within the GFC, aims to promote the exports of forest products.

4.30. Guyana's forestry sector is guided by the National Forest Plan and Policy 2011, as revised in May 2018. The sector is also guided by the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), a long-term strategy that seeks to transform Guyana into a low-carbon economy. In May 2017, the Guyana Forest Regulations were adopted and gazetted.

4.54. (...) Licensing requirements for the generation and supply of hydroelectric power are set out in the Hydroelectric Power Act, which vests the State with ownership of all waterpower that can be used to generate electricity. Licences to use water to generate electricity are granted by the President; they may set out the price at which electricity may be sold, subject to review every five years. Licences may be granted for an initial period of up to 50 years and may be renewed for an additional period of up to 50 years.

4.55. The Office of the Prime Minister is responsible for policy making and regulatory responsibility in the energy sector including hydropower development (...) The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), established under the Guyana Energy Agency Act 1997, advises the Office of the Prime Minister on various matters related to energy, including the promotion of solar photovoltaic systems. The GEA has responsibilities related to policy development and its implementation. The GEA also reviews hydroelectric power projects to determine the suitability of design and conducts inspections during construction to ensure compliance in keeping with its mandate under the Hydroelectric Power Act. (...)

4.56. The Government's policy objective is the efficient management of the energy mix for public interest and the provision of affordable, stable, and reliable energy to benefit both households and businesses. For this objective, the Government's policy targets include: (i) installing 400 MW of new installed capacity inclusive of hydropower, solar, wind, and natural gas; (ii) reducing electricity costs for households and businesses; (iii) achieving globally competitive energy cost; (iv) working with some neighbouring countries to create a new energy corridor; and (v) outlining a path to becoming a net energy exporter. The authorities state that the Government is committed to implementing the following measures: (i) production of 250 MW-300 MW from natural gas; (ii) creation of a local LPG plant to cater to domestic and export demands; (iii) urgent action to improve and upgrade the national grid (transmission and distribution); (iv) completion of the 165 MW Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, moving towards a clean, reliable, affordable power supply; (v) investment in solar and wind systems for off grid areas; (vi) expansion of the hinterland electrification programme; (vii) replacement and upgrade of solar panels in the hinterland; and (viii) development of micro grids for large hinterland areas.

4.57. (...) In addition, the Electricity (Exemption from the Requirement for a Licence) Order 2019, which entered into force on 19 October 2019, exempts, under specified conditions, consumers of a public supplier with renewable energy systems under 100 kW capacity and that supply excess capacity to the grid from requiring a licence granted by the Minister. The other classes of persons exempted are consumers of a public supplier with a minimum capacity of 100 kW of renewable energy, whose energy generated and supplied to the grid does not exceed their maximum demand, and self-generators that supply no more than 10 MW in excess capacity to the grid. (...)

4.71. The authorities state that the main policy focus of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is the development of industrial estates. (...) Between 2016 and 2017, the role of the Department was in keeping with the strategic objectives of the Ministry to enhance value added production and export. In this regard, the following strategy and actions were taken: (...) (iii) a study was conducted by UNIDO called "Guyana Green Industry and Trade Assessment". The study aimed to influence the design, implementation, and partnership building pertaining to emerging opportunities for green manufacturing, greening selected value chains, and improving resource efficiency and environmentally sustainable practices in industrial estates in Guyana over the next few years.

4.148. The authorities state that Guyana is currently in the process of updating the tourism regulations to move from a pass fail system to a tiered system, which makes licensing more attainable. Key components of changes are being made under sustainability, customer service, and health and safety.