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Govt. announces feasibility studies for massive hydro in Mazaruni
Guyana and Brazil have moved one step closer to the establishment of a massive Hydro Electric Plant, the road between Linden and Lethem and a deep water harbour.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birket
This was announced yesterday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who, in updating the House on the progress being made by the two countries, said that both governments have agreed to undertaking pre-feasibility and feasibility studies at two sites in the middle and upper Mazaruni for a hydro electric plant.
There will also be the preparation of an engineering design in order to advance the road project.
According to the Minister, should these two projects prove to be successful then there will be automatic support from the private sector to undertake the deep water port.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Guyana and Brazil had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the aim of stimulating a number of infrastructure projects, namely a Hydro Electric Plant with its complementing transmission line, a Deep Water Harbour and the road between Linden and Lethem.
She said a technical working group was set up to compile proposals and timetables which were then submitted to the Presidents of both Guyana and Brazil.
Four meetings were held by the group, three in Guyana and one in Brazil, and reports presented in July 2013.
According to the Minister, that working group had recommended that as it relates to the road, an engineering design must be completed, as well as pre-feasibility and feasibility studies in middle and upper Mazaruni as the way forward with the Hydro Electric Plant.
Minister Rodrigues-Birkett said it was recognized that the road and port are separate projects but are inter-related. She said that the port will be dependent in part, on goods coming out of Brazil, mainly Manaus.
“It is estimated that this route will reduce time and costs associated with export from north Brazil.”
According to Rodrigues-Birkett, “it was felt that if there is positive movement with the road and hydropower development, there will be automatic interest in the port by the Private Sector.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that the reports were endorsed by President Donald Ramotar and Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff. As a result, a Joint Commission for the Development of Infrastructure Projects has been set up to monitor the agreed projects.
The Commission she said is chaired on the Guyana side by Ambassador Elizabeth Harper.
The Minister announced that in the coming weeks the Government of Guyana will commence briefings with the parties represented in the House as well as other stakeholders including those living in the middle and upper Mazaruni regarding the projects.
The Minister did stress to the House that what will be done, “are pre-feasibility and feasibility studies and no decisions will be taken until these studies have been completed.”
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