Defunct Hosororo Hydropower Plant to be resuscitated

May 14, 2017 News

As Guyana continues its pursuit in alternative clean energy in the region, Government through the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has completed a feasibility study to resuscitate the defunct Hosororo hydropower plant.
The Hosororo site is situated at the Hosororo Creek about 4.6 kilometers south-west of Mabaruma in Region One.
It was in 1985 that a study done by Terrence Fletcher and Associates Limited explored the option to install a hydropower plant at the creek.
It was aimed at supplying electricity to an agricultural produce processing facility to have been built nearby. In the late 1980s, a powerhouse with a turbine of reportedly 5 kW capacity was installed using the upper of two existing concrete weirs. The project was abandoned some years after its inauguration for reasons that are still unclear.
As part of its mandate to develop and encourage the development and utilisation of sources of energy, other than sources presently in use; Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) engineers with assistance from the German Agency for International Corporation (GIZ) in collaboration with the Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technical Assistance (REETA) programme has completed the feasibility study and design for the redevelopment of the defunct 5kW hydropower plant to a 20kW plant.
According to Mahendra Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of GEA, the objectives of this move are to increase the energy mix of the Mabaruma electrical grid with a clean and renewable source of energy.
Additionally, the GEA hopes to gain experience in applying hydropower engineering and other multi-disciplinary concepts for sustainable rural electrification.
The entity wants to garner a greater understanding of run-of-the-river hydro technology to promote and increase the use of renewable energy in Guyana.
The facility is expected to be completed by March next year and about 735 households stand to benefit from the project.
Additionally, upon completion of the project the cost of energy in the community will reduce from about US$0.50 per kWh of fossil-based diesel to US$0.31 per kWh of clean energy.
In light of the controversial Amaila Falls project, Sharma was asked how Government will ensure value for money, to that the CEO answered that there are a number of measures which will be employed to ensure accountability.
Sharma said there will be supervision of the project during the construction phase by GEA Engineers along with their counterparts from the Hinterland Electrification Company Inc. (HECI) and the Mabaruma Power and Light Company (MPLC).
Additionally, regular updates will be provided to the Mayor and Councillors of the Region, and the general community, on the project through meetings and site visits. During these sessions, they will be encouraged to participate in the monitoring of the project.

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