Guyana commissions $650M drainage pump station at Canal No. 1

The Guyanese government has commissioned a G$650 million drainage pump station at Canal No. 1 in Region Three, West Bank Demerara. The facility features four pumps with a combined capacity of 580 cubic feet per second, designed to improve drainage for approximately 5,000 acres of land.

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha commissioned the station on October 21. The project is part of a broader $23 billion drainage infrastructure programme intended to mitigate flooding for residents and farmers in the region. This wider initiative includes the construction of high-level canals, internal drains, and embankments to create an integrated system capable of discharging water directly into the Demerara River.

The new infrastructure aims to protect agricultural production, homes, and commercial activities from waterlogging and flooding during periods of intense rainfall. While the pump station increases capacity, officials noted that the effectiveness of the system will depend on ongoing canal maintenance and the performance of the wider drainage network.