Residents to benefit  from resuscitated Tumatumari hydro
RESIDENTS of Tumatumari, in Region Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) will soon benefit from free electricity, as a result of the resuscitation of the hydroelectric plant, which was built there in the mid-1950s but was out of commission for the past 20 years. A local investor, Dynamic Engineering Limited, has resuscitated the generator at an estimated cost of some $200M and, with the exception of a few minor works, it will be ready to commence generating, using the turbulent waters of the Potaro River to produce approximately two megawatts of current.

General Manager of the Project, Mr. Conrad Niles said people who live nearby will immediately receive but the wider plan is to use the hydropower in an industrial area in and around Tumatumari, named Tumatumari Industrial Development Project.

Niles told the  Chronicle that getting the equipment operational had proved a major challenge that required a great deal of persistence and ingenuity.
“Lying idle for over twenty years, the entire hydro plant had been badly vandalized, leaving lots of rust and muck. But, when we started cleaning up the two turbines, at the slightest touch the brass on them glowed like brand new and that was a tremendous source of encouragement to us,” he said.

The hydroelectric plant was constructed by British Guiana Consolidated Gold Fields and provided electricity for its mining operations at Tumatumari and Konwaruk until the company closed operations.

A report in the Daily Argosy of September 23, 1956, headlined ‘Chairman of Consolidated Gold Fields, Potaro Electric Co.’ stated: “Sir Roland Robinson, Chairman of the B.G. Consolidated Gold Fields and Potaro Electric Company arrived yesterday from Trinidad on his annual routine visit.
“Robinson will fly out tomorrow to observe the work being done by the dredges at Tumatumari and to see the progress of the hydroelectric power project.
“Sir Roland said yesterday that the company was very anxious to start work as soon as possible but starting depended on the hydroelectric power which was now held up due to weather conditions.
“The water in the Potaro was so high that they were unable to get on with the work,” he said.