The government remains steadfast in its commitment to the Amaila Falls Hydropower project, and General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, has reiterated that the government will soon issue a fresh request for proposals to revive the project.
Dr. Jagdeo made this announcement during a press conference held at Freedom House on Thursday. He emphasized that the government plans to solicit proposals within the next two weeks.
Multiple investors have already expressed interest in the project, according to Dr. Jagdeo. He stated, “We were hoping within maybe a maximum of two weeks to go out for the request for proposals. Up to last week, we had another interest from a Brazilian company. We’ve had a company from Austria. We had several from Korea… I think there are a large number of people approaching us, and the best way to do this is through a public process.”
The PPP/C government, in alignment with its manifesto commitments, has been actively working to revive the Amaila Falls project. This initiative is part of the government’s revamped Low Carbon Development Strategy, aimed at reducing electricity costs and supporting Guyana’s economic diversification efforts.
Given the ongoing challenges faced by Guyana Power and Light (GPL) in providing reliable electricity to consumers, the Amaila Falls project is becoming increasingly essential. It will complement the upcoming Gas to Energy project, delivering stable and cost-effective electricity to the people of Guyana.
Dr. Jagdeo mentioned that the technical teams have already received instructions to update the project data from the previous request for proposal. Many documents from the past efforts are readily available, making the process more efficient.
During its previous term in office, the PPP/C administration conducted extensive assessments, including an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), in its efforts to move the project forward. However, the project faced setbacks due to opposition from the APNU and AFC parties in the parliament. Additionally, the original executing company, China Railway Limited, requested a change in the contract arrangement from Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) to Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC), causing further delays.
The Amaila Falls Hydropower project is expected to generate an estimated 160 megawatts of power and plays a crucial role in the government’s agenda for renewable energy development in the country.
