– barring challenges of upcoming May/June rains
A SITE visit to the Amaila Falls access road over the weekend enabled a team of officials to assess the works being done by new contractors, two months after the termination of the contract held by Fip Motilall and Synergy Holdings Ltd. President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn, and Engineering Consultant to the Government Walter Willis headed the team which visited several sections of the more than 80 kilometres of roadway that has to be completed before work commences on the hydro power project. First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar also accompanied the team.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower project is being vigorously pursued by the Administration on the basis that it would significantly reduce Guyana’s US$350M fuel import bill, and minimise the impact of fuel price movement on the cost of generating power. The development of renewable energy sources is needed to increase energy security and maintain macro-economic stability.
The project, which has the capacity to provide over 140 megawatts of electricity, is to be located along the Kuribrong River in Potaro, Region 8.
President Ramotar stated that he was pleased with the work being done in sections three and four, even though he recognises that there will be challenges to complete it.
“The workers and the management have assured me that they can do it,” he said. “They are more worried now about the May/June rains…I like the spirit, they are optimistic and they seem up to the challenge to try to get this road completed so that we will be able to get hydro electricity for our country.”
Minister Benn said, “We have been able to restart three sections …barring the challenges of weather; contractors, consultants, workers, engineers at the Ministry…are geared up and prepared to get this job done, before the construction of the hydro power dam,” he said.
Since Motilall’s US$15.4M contract was terminated, for failure to honour one of the terms of a completion agreement, Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc. was awarded the contract to build the Kurupukari junction and it also holds the contract for section four. The project, which will now be executed in lots, will see other contractors being recruited.
Section five has been allocated to Ivor Allen, while sections six and seven are yet to be allocated. Bids are out for the latter section.
Willis said that the contractors want to restart work at section two, using resources from the previous Amaila Falls contract, along with additional resources from the Ministry of Public Works.
Toolsie Persaud Quarries’ contractor, Romeo Ramascindo, noted that the Kuribrong River has been cleared while a high level swamp in section two has been dug out, filled and bedded. “You can now drive up to about two kilometres before the Kuribrong River,” he told President Ramotar.
In dealing with swamps encountered, he explained that culverts will be dug and higher embankments will be built above their floodplain. Intermittent drainage pipes will then be installed and bridges placed in between the swamps. Excess water going down the sides of the embankment will run through the bridge lanes. Additionally, to protect the embankments, fabric and laterite boulders will be placed.
The Amaila Project involves the construction of a hydropower plant in the area of west-central Guyana, where the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers meet. Electricity produced at the plant will be delivered to Georgetown and Linden through a high-voltage 230-KV transmission line that will be built, along with electric substations in Linden and Georgetown.
A new road, approximately 65 kms long, will be built connecting the project site to the existing Bartica-Potaro Road. Another new road, approximately 20 km, will be constructed from the existing Mabura Hills Highway to the Essequibo River. Other existing roads will be upgraded in order to provide access needed to move the equipment, supplies, and personnel to build the project, as well as for future operation and maintenance of the plant and transmission lines.