PPP/C on track to Propel Guyana - AFHP Will Be Realised

PPP/C on track to Propel Guyana – AFHP Will Be Realised

Sep 05, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

The news is indeed great, that is, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government (PPP/C) is about to re-open the ‘competitive bidding process’ for Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP). It is about time! Had this major game-changing project not been ‘dumped’ by the previous administration, Guyana would have been in such a wonderful position, in terms of affordable energy. But APNU/AFC possessed by a philosophy to make PPP/C look bad, ‘garbaged’ the very idea of the AFHP.

Readers, I recall back in December 2016, the independent assessment of the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) did reveal that the only realistic path for Guyana to move towards an emission-free electricity sector is by developing its hydropower potential and the fastest way forward is to maintain the AFHP.

This report, compiled by Norconsult, an engineering and design consultancy firm out of Norway, and which was contracted by the Government of Norway, detailed an “objective and facts-based” assessment of the Project on the agreement of the two Governments, and made some telling statements. Essentially, the go-ahead was unambiguous from the inception.

However, The A Partnership For National Unity/Alliance For Change Administration, during its term in office, from 2015 to 2020, had shelved the project, which was a predicted move, as when they were the ‘joint majority opposition’ had kept ‘on and on’ blocking its go-ahead.

Now all seems set and ready, as the PPP/C declared that ‘delay will not affect promise of cheap electricity’ since they are “still committed to seeing the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP) to fruition and will be re-opening a Request for Proposal to ensure that there be a competitive process in selecting a suitable contractor for the project.” The details from Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo, is that “the Government has received several direct proposals for the Amaila Falls project, and “So, when you have several proposals, the best way to evaluate is to go to a competitive process. We will have to go to that. We haven’t launched it as yet but we will have to do that.”

To me, it is only a matter of time, before one of several bidders come up and seal the contract that will eventuate in ‘cheap electricity’ for all Guyanese.

The word from the VP is that “… at least two proposals were received from companies in Brazil to do the hydro project, and President Irfaan Ali back December 2022, did say that “… he told Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm, and her team that the Amaila Falls project is open to US investors.”

It gets better as “back in October 2022, the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Mark Berman, disclosed that the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) had also held discussions with the Guyana Government on the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project.”

Sparing more details, with the realisation of the mega venture, “the AFHP is expected to deliver a steady source of clean, renewable energy, that is affordable and reliable and is envisioned to meet a significant portion of Guyana’s domestic energy needs.”

As we all know, energy is a most critical component of a country’s economic development. It is widely utilized in agricultural and allied fields such as the manufacturing and delivery of fertilizers, insecticides, and farm machinery. It is necessary for homes for cooking, lighting, and warmth. Further, energy is a key source of economic growth because many production and consumption activities involve energy as a basic input. In summation, energy is one of the most important inputs for economic development, and that is where Guyana is heading, under the PPP/C Government.

Yours truly,

HB Singh.

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agreement, Amaila Falls Hydropower Project (AFHP), APNU-AFC, HB Singh., People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government (PPP/C)

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