– project cost pegged at  $615M
THE European Union (EU), in promoting the use of sustainable and climate friendly energy, has recently approved a project for the development of a Micro-Hydropower System on the Chiung River, Kato in Region 8, Guyana.
The Financing Agreement [FA] for the project has since been dispatched by the EU Delegation in Guyana to the Minister of Finance who acts as the National Authorising Officer [NAO] for the EU funded programmes in Guyana.
A public signing ceremony to officially launch the project is expected to follow in the very near future between the NAO and the Head of Delegation of the European Union here.
According to a statement yesterday from the EU, the total cost of the project is pegged at Euro 2,455,797 [approximately Gy$615M] with the EU contributing Euro 1,841,848 [approximately Gy$460M] under the 10th European Development Fund [EDF] while the Guyana Government will contribute Euro 613, 949 [approximately Gy$154M].
The EU said that, as part of the Government’s broader hinterland electrification programme, the system will comprise a 330 kilowatt micro-hydropower station with its primary energy source being the 36m head waterfall in the Chiung River in the vicinity of Kato village.
Sufficient generating capacity for electrical services are to be provided to a secondary school complex to be constructed by the Ministry of Education, existing government buildings such as the nursery/primary schools, the guest house, the police outpost, medical facilities, school dormitories and to also facilitate agro processing and commercial farming. Furthermore the system will provide electricity to Paramakatoi through a 16 km transmission line which forms part of the intervention.
According to the EU, it is expected that the Government will fast track the construction of the secondary school facility, which is a pre-condition for the investment to be made.
The secondary school is foreseen to be the main electricity consumer and therefore forms the basis for feasibility of the investment.
Head of Delegation of the European Union in Guyana, Ambassador Robert Kopecký remarked that he “anticipates the speedy commencement of the construction phase of the system and hopes that the construction deadlines can be achieved without any major hiccups”.
He further emphasised that “the project embodies initiatives under the Low Carbon Development Strategy [LCDS], while expressing hope that similar sustainable energy uses could be employed especially for the hinterland regions”.
The construction phase is expected to begin in February 2013 and be completed by February 2015.