– potential hydro-power link on agenda as Brazilian President visits Guyana

GUYANA’S historical connection with Brazil is expected to progress as Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo has confirmed a greater goal of promoting integration between the two neighbouring countries.

During the third day of Guyana’s Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, which is being held at the Marriott Hotel, the Vice President, during a closing presentation, captured the attention of the large audience when he extensively spoke on the strides that Guyana has been making in food, energy, and climate security, and the new avenues that will be explored to bolster cooperation between Guyana and Brazil.

The closing session was moderated by Carlos Pascal, Senior Vice President for Global Energy and International Affairs, S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Guyana has a direct connection to Brazil through Lethem, which is located on the border between the two countries.

Diplomatic relations between the two nations were established on August 26, 1968, and have subsequently involved collaboration in trade, health, agriculture, transport, and security.
According to the Vice President: “We had a bigger vision for the integration of Brazil and Guyana.”

“I always believe projects that are based just on good will and good intent have a very hard time succeeding… but I think if there is a need and an economic interest, then there’s the drive to have these projects succeed,” he firmly stated.

He then went on to say: “And the thing is that northern Brazil can benefit from energy integration with Guyana significantly. So they can have an interest that sustain the political; it’s a political interest almost and an economic interest.”
Dr. Jagdeo further stated that the road to Brazil will cut transportation time.

Additionally, the Vice President stated that the Brazilian President, Lula da Silva’s visit to Guyana next week, is going to “pick up” where they left off, especially when it comes to advancing economic interests of the two nations.

The Brazilian President will be meeting with President Dr. Irfaan Ali and his team for discussions on a potential ‘hydro-power link” between the two neighbouring countries.

President Ali made this announcement while delivering the feature address at the opening of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo on Monday.
He was at the time discussing the much-anticipated Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) and the 165 megawatts of power it is expected to produce.

“With Brazil President Lula coming next week, we’re discussing even the integration of more hydro in Brazil and creating a transmission link for power to be distributed into northern Brazil,” President Ali said.

The AFHP programme was shelved following the APNU+AFC taking office in 2015; however, the PPP/C administration since entering office in 2020 has sought to breathe new life into the project as the party strives to achieve energy security through an energy mix.

Several companies, including Brazilian, Austrian, and North Korean investors, have expressed interest in bidding to construct the project.

Brazil and Guyana have been expanding their energy cooperation, with several significant developments.
In 2022, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, during an official visit to Guyana, agreed to broaden their energy cooperation.

Additionally, the Heads of State of Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname have taken steps towards forging an infrastructure that would better share the neighbouring South American countries’ energy and natural resources, including discussing projects such as new roads, bridges, and energy projects that could reshape the region’s economy.