Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn, yesterday announced the arrival of a quantity of equipment to be used for the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project (AFHEP) access road and is optimistic that work on the project will begin soon. Speaking from the Omai Bauxite Company’s Linden Yard, Minister Benn said that the equipment arrived on Sunday last and after being cleared by Customs, the barge proceeded to Linden where the equipment was off loaded at the Omai wharf.
According to the Minister, the tug, Muheet, and barge CIA-204, had experienced some delays in Miami in the United States as the insurers there had to ensure their sea worthiness, as the vessels were undertaking their maiden voyage. The appearance of tropical depression Colin over Florida waters also inhibited departure.
Minister Benn said the contractor, Synergy Holdings Inc., has indicated that this first shipment includes three front-end loaders, four excavators, four dump trucks, two bull dozers and one scraper. These pieces of equipment will be used for the cleaning and sub grade preparation of the road, the Minister said.
Minister Benn indicated that the standard finishing equipment for the completion of the road would be shipped in due course.
Chief Engineer, Ministry of Public Works and Communication, Walter Willis, said that as early as today, a team of engineers would be dispatched to the Linden Yard site, to check the equipment in order to establish their readiness for the project. Willis said that the contactor requested a piece of land 26 miles unto the Mabura road to be used as a launching area for the project’s equipment.
He reiterated that of the four bids that were submitted for the project, the evaluation team considered that Synergy had the best bid in terms of price and execution.
The bid from Synergy Holdings Inc, was US$ 15, 400,000, as opposed to BK International’s, US $21,037,500; Roop and Ramotar Investments’ US$ 26M; and B&J Civil Works, in conjunction with Ivor Allen and Dynamic Engineering’s, US$16, 065,000.
Willis said that on April 15 last, Synergy was given notice to proceed with the ground shooting and surveying exercise in order to provide the Ministry with details of the design. That, Willis said, has gone through two revisions, the second and final of which was submitted on August 6 and is currently being reviewed.
The Ministry has since dispatched teams of engineers to the area to verify that the details furnished by the contractor with respect to the survey, distances and elevations are being field checked, Willis said.
Work on the access road to the Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project is expected to commence immediately after the environmental construction permit is issued. (GINA)