Latest update December 20th, 2024 4:27 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Govt. looking for investor to help revive contentious Amaila project

Jul 25, 2021 News

Kaieteur News – The Office of the Prime Minister has published a request for proposals for the Amaila Falls hydro project on Friday, as the government looks to revive the project which has not gotten off the ground for more than a decade since it was first proposed, due to issues of feasibility and a lack of transparency.
The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) had intended years ago, to have the China Railways First Group (CRFG) develop the project, with money coming from Norway, China and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). But a Norwegian ethics council had raised questions about the involvement of the Chinese company in a significant corruption case.
Now, the Government wants a private partner to fund and develop the project. According to the notice, the development arrangement for the project will take one of two systems.
With the first option, Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT), the developer would operate the project for a 20-year BOOT period, before handing it over to the government at no cost. With the second option, Design-Build-Finance, the government would take over the project at the commissioning date and initiate repayment of the financing in accordance with contract terms.
It said that those interested will have to submit proposals under both options, and the government will choose one. The notice said that the Government will choose a capable partner based on how their plans align with the timeframes stipulated, and the lowest economic costs including life-cycle costs. The submissions would have to include estimated project costs, detailing all capital costs, financing costs, supervision costs, development costs, and all other costs to date of commissioning/commercial operations.
The Office of the Prime Minister said that interested parties should review and comment on all project documents and technical studies generally available at the end of 2015.
With many questions about whether this project would work, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance for Change (AFC) had combined forces in Parliament to oppose it, following the 2011 general election. After the two parties formed a coalition and won the 2015 general election, the project did not stand a chance.
The PPP/C campaigned with the revival of the Amaila Falls project as a manifesto promise, and is now looking to fast-track it.
“The GoG desires start of construction by second half of 2022, with project completion and commissioning by end of 2025,” the notice states. This is similar to the Government’s plan for the gas-to-shore project, which is intended for construction from 2022, with completion and commissioning in 2024.
The PPP/C Government has not sufficiently responded to concerns raised by civil society and the media about the gas-to-shore project, much less the Amaila Falls project.
The public notice about Amaila states “GPL’s current Development and Expansion (D&E) Plan for 2021 to 2025, projects total capacity required in 2025 as 465 MW and energy of 2,900 GWH. The GOG proposes an energy mix that will utilize both natural gas, Heavy Fuel Oil, and renewables (hydro, wind, solar).”
With the gas-to-shore and Amaila projects being the main sources of power, the government said that other renewable sources and heavy fuel oil will make up the balance or serve as backup.

 

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

India produce dominant 60-run win over West Indies to claim 2-1 T20I series victory in Mumbai

India produce dominant 60-run win over West Indies to claim 2-1 T20I...

Dec 20, 2024

SportsMax – The West Indies will have to wait a bit longer for their first T20 International series win over India since 2017 after they were defeated by 60 runs in the Thursday’s decisive...
Read More
Guyanese athletes make mark at second Kares Cross Fit Caribbean event in Suriname

Guyanese athletes make mark at second Kares Cross...

Dec 20, 2024

Minister Ramson tables historic Guyana Horse Racing Authority Bill

Minister Ramson tables historic Guyana Horse...

Dec 20, 2024

Trophy Stall on board with Petra-KFC Goodwill Series 2024

Trophy Stall on board with Petra-KFC Goodwill...

Dec 20, 2024

Topp XX and Winners Connection seeking quarterfinals berth as six matches carded

Topp XX and Winners Connection seeking...

Dec 20, 2024

GFF and MEYBA launch new kits to unite Guyanese fans and boost team performance

GFF and MEYBA launch new kits to unite Guyanese...

Dec 20, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]