– infrastructural works under way to advance Amaila Falls  project
President Bharrat Jagdeo’s commitment to providing cheaper and more reliable electricity has moved a step closer to being realised. The way is being paved for the construction of the hydropower plant at Amaila Falls in the Kuribrong River, Region 8.
Preparations for the implementation of this project are slated to begin shortly as Government has already awarded a US$15M contract for the  construction and upgrading of roads, bridges, and building a pontoon to cross the Essequibo River so as to allow the investors easy access to the site.
The President made this announcement at a press conference on Friday at the Office of the President, when he highlighted that the contract includes building a bridge across the Kuribrong River, construction of 110 kms of new roads and upgrading 85 km, some of which will provide easy access to the Amaila Falls. He added that cutting some of the pathways for the transmission main has already begun.
President Jagdeo said the project is expected to take about eight to ten months, during which time he hopes that that financial closure for the hydro will be achieved.
He said that through Government’s pre-financing of the road, this would reduce the interest cost as the money would be utilised in a timely manner. The hydro project would immediately result in a lower cost of electricity to the Government and consumers.
Government is working with the Inter American Development Bank and China Development Bank and other investors on securing the financing so that the project could advance.
The Amaila Falls project has the capacity to provide over 140 megawatts of electricity.
President Jagdeo had earlier said that the Caribbean should be pushing for renewable energy because of its vulnerability to fossil fuels; and despite challenges, Guyana would be pursuing renewable energy in the form of hydropower, one way or another.
Guyana’s fuel import bill is US$350M, and the President had said that the development of renewable energy sources is needed to increase energy security and maintain macro-economic stability.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is part of a larger effort to transform the power generation infrastructure. Also ongoing is a US$39.6M project to upgrade the transmission and distribution system, establishing a continuous network from Skeldon, Berbice, to Parika.
It will also see the construction of a state-of-the-art control centre at Sophia and will be capable of connecting to the Amaila Falls project once it is completed. (GINA)